Human Rights Center Requests Establishment of International Mission to Assess Human Rights Violation in Georgia during Conflict

The Human Rights Center attempted to gain the attention of international organizations and Western countries about the looming escalation of the violence and military operations in Georgia in recent years, which included widespread human rights violations, militarization of the country, a campaign of war propaganda, violation of rule of law, and the demonstrated sense of total impunity and malfeasance and neglect on the side of civil institutions. Collectively such a set of factors have created fertile ground for the unpredictable situation that now faces Georgia. Such a situation can only further benefit our enemies.

The Human Rights Center condemns military resolution of the conflict that occurred on August 7-8 on the Georgian side and it considers the launching of the war in Tskhinvali region as a huge and fatal mistake on the part of the Georgian government. Despite many provocations, the government should have attempted to find all means to further hamper the escalation of violations on the part of the Russian Federation.

We condemn war and thought that it was not the war of Georgia and Georgian people against Ossetian people but was rather it a war conducted by the small “war group” of the central authority against its own peaceful population, and against both innocent Georgian and Ossetian people.

In parallel, we also condemn Russian aggression and the subsequent occupation of Georgia by the armed forces of the Russian Federation. The entire world is astonished by the activities of Russian troops, which has included the robbery of Georgian population, looting of property and acts of vandalism, which has recently taken place. Thousands of people have become the bewildering victims of Russian aggression. Russia continues in its concerted efforts to destroy Georgia with the kinds of methods that were common to middle ages and it continues to openly interfere with Georgian affairs.

The Human Rights Centre requests international organizations to set up an investigation body to assess the human rights violations committed by all parties to the conflict. We are seeking out the truth and not wanting to take out revenge. We should know what has actually happened, and not base on understanding of the events of the war that is based upon the propaganda provided by the parties to this war.

Georgian society should think over those reasons that caused recent disaster that we cannot currently overcome. All parties - Russia, Georgia, de-facto South Ossetian authority and the United States should accept their fairs share of the responsibilities for the current situation that now exists in Georgia.

Only truth and peaceful resolution of conflicts will be the foundation upon which to establish peace in Georgia and bring peace and stability to the entire region.

25 Aug. '08