Georgia seeks Hague judgement against Russia

Georgia will seek a ruling from the UN’s highest court in the Hague later today ordering Russia to stop what it is claimed are human rights violations against ethnic Georgians in the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The emergency three-day hearing will be held at the International Court of Justice, which investigates disputes between nations.

Officials will also ask Russia to allow Georgian citizens displaced by the years of unrest in the region to return home.

“You know, I think we are very strong in our position, and that’s why we think that it will be useful for the situation in Georgia to appeal to the court now.”

Tblisi says around 400 thousand Georgians have been driven from their homes since the country’s declaration of independence from the Russian Federation in 1991.

It is alleged these recent photographs show the looting and torching of ethnic Georgian homes in South Ossetia during the conflict in August.

Legal experts predict that, in its defence, Russia is likely to question the jurisdiction of the ICJ as well as dispute the veracity of Georgia’s claims.