Human rights activists claim the introduction of railway troops to Abkhazia violates RF Constitution

Today, the Komi Human Rights Commission (KHRC) "Memorial" has filed a complaint to Yuri Chaika, Russian Prosecutor General, in which it claims that the introduction of Russian railway troops to Abkhazia which is formally part of the Georgian territory was made with a serious violation of the Russian Constitution.

The human rights activists think that the involvement of the Russian troops in the solution of a transport problem on the territory of Abkhazia contradicts the provision of the Georgia's territorial integrity which includes Abkhazia.

Pursuant to the Russian Constitution and the Federal Law "On Defense", the consent of the Council of Federation, the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament, was required in order to use Russian troops in Abkhazia. The Council of the Federation never gave such consent. Therefore, the human rights activists draw a conclusion that Abkhazia is either de facto controlled by Russian authorities or the authorities have grossly violated legislation.

"We do not see any connection between the peace-making operation of the Russian troops in the Georgia-Abkhazia conflict zone and restoration of the railway for transporting construction materials to the Olympic facilities in Sochi ", notes Ernest Mezak, member of the human rights commission board.

The KHRC "Memorial" is going to use the opinion of the General Prosecutor's Office on the issue of the presence of Russian troops in Abkhazia during the European Court on Human Rights hearings on the complaint against the post blockade of Georgia.