Russia prepares its answer to European Court on Georgia's complaint about events of South Ossetia

Russia is preparing an answer to the interstate complaint submitted by Georgia on the events in South Ossetia and received by Russia from the European Court on Human Rights (ECtHR) on February 11, 2009. This was stated today by Andrei Nesterenko, official spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Russian Federation.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 3 the ECtHR in Strasbourg recognized eligibility of the Georgia's complaint, accusing Russia of breaking the rights of Georgian citizens in the form of "arrests and mass deportations" from the Russian territory in 2006-2007.

As reported by Mr Nesterenko today, the office of Russia's representative at the ECtHR has already started preparing written remarks on Georgia's complaints on the events in South Ossetia and on possible participation in hearings, the "Georgia Today" reports.

The MFA's spokesman has added that presently the above remarks have been sent to the ECtHR with attachment of materials and respective criminal cases initiated by Russian inspectors on the facts of the crimes committed by Georgian militaries against residents of South Ossetia, the "Voice of Russia" Radio reports.