ICC says investigation into Russia-Georgia war case ended

The International Criminal Court on Friday announced the completion of its investigation into the Russia-Georgia 2008 war case over crimes against humanity and war crimes, which was opened in 2016 and pledged to continue its efforts for the arrest of three individuals, who had been declared wanted for their alleged crimes. 

The court prosecutor Karim Khan said warrants were issued in June against Mikhail Mayramovich Mindzaev, Gamlet Guchmazov and David Georgiyevich Sanakoev for alleged unlawful confinement, torture and ill-treatment, hostage taking and subsequent unlawful transfer of ethnic Georgian civilians in the Tskhinvali region of central Georgia, which is currently occupied by Russia. 

He said the suspects were among those “most responsible for those alleged crimes”, while the investigation also uncovered the alleged role of Vyacheslav Borisov, Major General in the Armed Forces of Russia and Deputy Commander of the Airborne Forces at the time of events, “who is believed to have intentionally contributed to the execution of some of these crimes, and is now deceased”. 

“Today I can confirm that, beyond the cases pending before the ICC, my Office will not pursue new lines of inquiry into the alleged criminal responsibility of other persons or for other conduct within the Situation in Georgia. Accordingly, absent a significant change in circumstances, the investigation phase in the situation in Georgia has been concluded. I have informed the Georgian authorities of this decision”, Khan said. 

He noted “twenty years since the establishment of the ICC “today marks the first time my Office has decided to conclude the investigation phase of its work in relation to a Situation addressed by the Court. Taking such decisions are an essential part of articulating and implementing an effective prosecutorial strategy”.