A hearing into alleged human rights abuses in Georgia by Russian troops has begun at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Tbilisi sent the application to The Hague on August 12 – the day Russia announced the end of its military operation in the conflict zone.

Tbilisi accuses Moscow of full-scale invasion, the support of separatists and ethnic cleansing. Georgia has asked the court to take interim measures to protect it from Russia.

The court will have to decide whether the case is within its jurisdiction and whether urgent action is needed.
 
Meanwhile Russia has been investigating the alleged genocide of the South Ossetian people by Georgian troops. Moscow says a lawsuit against Georgia will be filed when the investigation is concluded.

“Tbilisi has blamed Russia for discriminating against Georgians living in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We explained that it was Georgia's actions against Abkhazian and Ossetian people that lead to racial discrimination. And Russia throughout the conflict has tried to create a safe environment for all sides,” said Kirill Gevorgian, Russian Ambassador to the Netherlands.