International Criminal Court Monitoring Events in Georgia

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The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, has confirmed his Office is analysing information related to alleged crimes committed in Georgia in recent weeks that fall under the Court’s jurisdiction.

Heavy fighting began earlier this month in South Ossetia between Georgian and South Ossetian forces, with Russian forces becoming involved there and in the separate region of Abkhazia and other parts of Georgia in the following days. The violence has uprooted almost 160,000 people in recent weeks.

"Georgia is a State Party to the Rome Statute" he said.

"My Office considers carefully all information relating to alleged crimes within its jurisdiction – war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide - committed on the territory of States Parties or by nationals of States Parties, regardless of the individuals or groups alleged to have committed the crimes. The Office is inter alia analyzing information alleging attacks on the civilians."

The Prosecutor 's office is analying information alleging attacks on civilians in Georgia, which is a State Party to the Rome Statute that established the Court.

The Office of the Prosecutor has been closely monitoring all information on the situation in Georgia since the outbreak of violence in South Ossetia in early August, including information from public sources.

An official from the Georgian government met with the Division of the Jurisdiction, Complementarity and Co-operation of the Office to offer information and co-operation. The Russian Federation has formally delivered information to the Office of the Prosecutor and is continuing to do so.

The Office will proceed to seek further information from all actors concerned.