European Court finds Russia responsible for torture and killings of Georgian POWs in 2008 war

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled against Russia in cases concerning the torture and killing of Georgian prisoners of war during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, according to the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA).

The cases concerned complaints related to the torture and killing of three Georgian servicemen held as prisoners of war between 9 and 11 August 2008, as well as the torture of other surviving Georgian POWs between 9 and 19 August of that year.

In its judgment, the Strasbourg-based court found that Russia had violated Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to life, and Article 3, which prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment.

The court concluded that Russia was responsible for the deaths of Georgian servicemen Giorgi Antsukhelidze, Kakhaber Khubuluri and Ushangi Sopromadze, and for the torture of those men as well as several other Georgian prisoners of war.

The ECHR also found that Russian authorities had failed to conduct effective investigations into the incidents.

Under the ruling, Russia has been ordered to pay compensation for non-pecuniary damage within three months of the judgment becoming final. The court awarded €65,000 each to the families of Giorgi Antsukhelidze, Kakhaber Khubuluri and Ushangi Sopromadze, while the remaining applicants are to receive €40,000 each.

In a statement, the chair of GYLA described the ruling as a "historic and emotional day", saying the judgment confirmed facts long known in Georgia.

According to the organisation, this is the first time since the 2021 judgment in the interstate case of Georgia v. Russia (II) that the Strasbourg court has examined Russia's jurisdiction over Georgian prisoners of war in individual applications, rather than declining to assess events linked to active hostilities.

The applications were initially lodged in 2009 and 2010, and the proceedings lasted for more than 15 years before the court delivered its judgment.