Tbilisi, Georgia, Dec. 24
By Nana Kirtzkhalia - Trend:
Georgia and Russia will submit their final arguments about the August 2008 war to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR, the Strasbourg Court) on December 31.
Afterwards, the hearings will start, Georgian Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani told reporters Dec. 24.
"We continue disputing the state claims," the minister said. "The first lawsuit with Russia was successful. As for the second argument, which relates to the August war, Georgia and Russia will submit their final arguments on December 31."
Tsulukiani thinks that the hearings will begin in the Strasbourg Court next year.
Large scale military action was launched between Georgia and Russia in South Ossetia on August 8, 2008.
Later, Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military.
Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August.
In response, Tbilisi ended diplomatic relations with Moscow and has called the two unrecognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories.