Georgia Sues Russia

August 12, 2008: The country of Georgia filed a lawsuit against Russia claiming ethnic cleansing in the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions. After a ceasefire was called following days of fighting during the South Ossetia War, Georgian troops claimed they were still being targeted by Russian forces in the region.

Fast Facts

1. Lawsuit filed at the International Court of Justice
2. Abkhazian forces claimed responsibility for attacks on Georgian troops
3. War broke out when Georgia entered the autonomous South Ossetia region to take control of separatists; Russia attacked to defend the province
4. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered an end to military operations against Georgia on August 12
5. The United Nations reported that nearly a hundred thousand civilians had fled their homes

Casualties

While Georgia accused Russia of cleansing the Georgian people, Russia had their own accusations of genocide. Russia reported that civilian deaths in South Ossetia numbered over 1,500, while Georgia put the figure around 200.

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