Kobakhidze: Gov’t Fully Ensures Protection of National Interests in Hague
By Tea Mariamidze
Wednesday, November 14
Georgia’s Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze says the government will fully ensure the protection of the national interests in Hague Court, which investigates crimes allegedly committed during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.
Kobakhidze made the statement in response to the appeal of the opposition parties, the United National Movement and European Georgia, which summons the Ministers of Justice Foreign Affairs to Parliament to answer the questions raised regarding the dispute between Georgia and Russia in the Court.
“We have held the consultations with the executive authority and Georgia will fully ensure the protection of the national interests in this process – it is our responsibility and all respective agencies are involved in this case,” he said.
The Speaker noted there is no need of summoning the ministers to the legislative body and the actions of the opposition is a “provocation.”
“If this initiative is based on the speculations planed by the Russian PR technologists, naturally we see no need of it. The speculations on the issues related to our common national interests are inadmissible. Unfortunately, the opposition is dignified with speculations in this pre-election process and in general, it speculates even on the issues related to our common national interests,” he added.
European Georgia member, Giga Bokeria told Palitranews that the investigation into the war crimes was launched by the previous government, adding the ruling Georgian Dream leadership told the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague that they would not be able to continue the investigation as they have no access to Russian-occupied territories of Georgia.
“If the current leadership is so well prepared for the case at Hague Court, let them answer our questions at the parliament,” Bokeria stressed.
The ICC launched an investigation for the crimes allegedly committed in and around South Ossetia, Georgia, between 1 July and 10 October 2008. This time period gives an opportunity to investigate not only the five days of actual war but also the period before the conflict, during which, the Georgian side says, crimes were committed frequently by the separatists backed up by Russia.
In February 2015, Russia refused to cooperate with the ICC within the investigation, stressing that the armed conflict was provoked by Georgia. Meanwhile, the Georgian side said it will fully cooperate with the ICC in the investigation process.
