The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has heard closing arguments on the merits in the inter-state case Georgia v the Russian Federation

24th May 2018

Ben Emmerson QC and Rodney Dixon QC appeared on behalf of the Government of Georgia at the hearing in Strasbourg in which the final submissions were presented on Georgia’s application. Georgia alleges widespread and systematic violations of the European Convention on Human Rights arising from the conflict in August 2008 covering two regions in Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The case also concerns the abuses that followed during Russia’s occupation of these territories which continues until today. This is the first inter-state case before the Court that has addressed breaches of human rights during an armed conflict.