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Argument: Georgia committed war crimes and genocide in South Ossetia

Issue Report: Russian vs. Georgian justifications in 2008 South Ossetia war

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Russia’s ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin said that what was happening in Georgia’s breakaway region could only be seen as “ethic cleansing and genocide”.[1]

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia, “The Georgian government committed a crime against their own people when they invaded South Ossetia. The actions of Russia are firmly based in international law and legitimate. Russia shall always have enormous respect for the fraternal Georgian people, in spite of the criminal policy of the present government. I am confident, in spite of the tragedy that we see today, that this relationship shall continue in the future, notwithstanding the criminal policy of the present rulers of Georgia.”[2]

Putin told President Dmitry Medvedev in comments broadcast on Russian television. – “In my opinion they are already elements of some kind of genocide of the Ossetian people. I think it would be correct if you instruct the military prosecutor to document all such incidents.”[3]

Vitaly Churkin said he told the Security Council – “Two thousand killed, is it enough for you? Thirty thousand refugees, is that it enough for you? How many people have to be killed for genocide? It’s genocide to the South Ossetians.”[4]

“Georgia is guilty of genocide – Medvedev”. 10 Aug. 2008

“Moscow Accuses Georgia of ‘Genocide’”. 10 Aug. 2008 – President Dmitry Medvedev has described Georgia’s actions in the conflict zone as genocide. He has ordered Russian prosecutors to collect evidence of the crimes committed there.

”Georgia has exposed South Ossetia to a very crude and cynical aggression. People have died. Russian citizens have died, including local residents and peacekeepers. The actions of the Georgian side cannot be described as anything else but genocide.

“The information we have received suggests that horrible crimes were committed there. People were killed, burnt, run down by tanks, had their throats were cut,” Medvedev said.

Supporting videos

“Georgia’s aggression on South Ossetia is ethnic cleansing”[5]