Papuashvili: the Hague may demand arrest of Putin and Saakashvili

The parties to the conflict in South Ossetia are unable to conduct an objective investigation into the events of 2008; it should be done by a prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, Simon Papuashvili, a rights defender, said in his interview to the "Caucasian Knot".

Despite the fact that Russia has not ratified the Rome Statute of the ICC, Russian citizens may be prosecuted for their actions during the war in South Ossetia, said Papuashvili. According to his version, to initiate the process, it is enough that Georgia has recognized the Rome Statute.

"Hopes that Russia will cooperate with the Court and hand over its citizens are little. But, at least, those people, against whom an arrest warrant is issued, won't be able to come to any of the countries, which have signed the Rome Statute – there are 122 of them already," he said.

Should the commission of crimes during the Five-Day War be proved, then, we can expect an issue of arrest warrants on Vladimir Putin and Mikhail Saakashvili, the expert believes. In his opinion, these gentlemen will be the main defendants in the case.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.