INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, 2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands
Tel.: +31 (0)70 302 2323 Fax: +31 (0)70 364 9928
Website: www.icj-cij.org
Press Release
Unofficial
No. 2008/23
12 August 2008
Georgia institutes proceedings against Russia for violations of the Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
THE HAGUE, 12 August 2008. The Republic of Georgia today instituted proceedings
before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the Russian Federation for "its actions on and
around the territory of Georgia" in breach of the 1965 International Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). In its Application, Georgia "also seeks to ensure
that the individual rights" under the Convention "of all persons on the territory of Georgia are fully
respected and protected".
Georgia contends that the "Russian Federation, through its State organs, State agents, and
other persons and entities exercising governmental authority, and through the South Ossetian and
Abkhaz separatist forces and other agents acting on the instructions of, and under the direction and
control of the Russian Federation, is responsible for serious violations of its fundamental
obligations under [the] CERD, including Articles 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6". According to Georgia, Russia
had "violated its obligations under [the] CERD during three distinct phases of its interventions in
South Ossetia and Abkhazia" in the period from 1990 to August 2008.
Georgia requests the Court to order "the Russian Federation to take all steps necessary to
comply with its obligations under [the] CERD".
As a basis for the jurisdiction of the Court, Georgia invokes Article 22 of the Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. It also reserves its right to invoke
Article IX of the Genocide Convention, to which both Georgia and Russia are parties, as an
additional basis for the Courťs jurisdiction.
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The full text of Georgia's Application will be available shortly on the Courťs website
(www.icj-cij.org).
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Information Department:
Mrs. Laurence Blairon, Secretary of the Court, Head of Department (+31 (0)70 302 2336)
Messrs. Boris Heim and Maxime Schouppe, Information Officers (+31 (0)70 302 2337)
Ms Joanne Moore, Associate Information Officer (+31 (0)70 302 2394)