UN Court To Rule On Georgia Bid For Protection From Russia

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THE HAGUE (AFP)--The U.N.'s highest court will rule Wednesday on a Georgian bid for protection against what it claims was a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" by Russia in their clash over two breakaway regions.

After Russian troops entered Georgia in August to repel a Georgian military campaign to regain control of South Ossetia, Moscow and Tbilisi found themselves pursuing the argument before the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Georgia took Russia to court over alleged breaches of the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination. Russia rejected the claims.

Georgia instituted proceedings against its neighbor on Aug. 12, alleging a Russian campaign of "ethnic cleansing" against Georgians in areas under Russian control.



Georgia said the war over the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia forced up to 150,000 ethnic Georgians to flee.

As it can take months for the court to decide whether or not to take on a case, Georgia then brought another application on a more urgent basis, asking for interim protection measures.

In the interim application, Georgia sought an order compelling Russia to protect ethnic Georgians from violent discriminatory acts, and to allow the return of refugees to South Ossetia, Abkhazia and adjacent "occupied" areas.

It is this matter on which the court will rule Wednesday.

Moscow has denied the accusations, rejecting claims that the conflict had an ethnic character or that it was an occupying force.

Russia said the Georgian assault on South Ossetia had left it no choice but to send in tanks and troops.

Russia halted its offensive after five days, but has yet to withdraw all its troops from South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both of which it has since recognized as independent states.

Moscow has challenged the court's jurisdiction to hear the case, asking for a dismissal.

The ICJ settles disputes between sovereign states in line with international law.

It has no power of its own to enforce its rulings. That would fall on the U.N. Security Council, in which Russia - as a permanent member - wields veto power.

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