Minister Tsulukiani: Russia’s Obligation to Pay Compensation to Expelled Georgians ‘Unconditional’

On February 28, Georgian Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani made remarks about Russia’s delay to pay due compensation to Georgian victims who had suffered from illegal detention and collective expulsion by Russian authorities in 2006. Tsulukiani insisted that Russia has an obligation to comply with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgement. “Russia’s sole argument not to pay EUR 10 million compensation to Georgian state is unfounded,” stated the Minister, adding that Georgia has provided all requisite documentation with regard to case victims. 
  

Last September Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE), a body supervising execution of the Court judgments,  called on Russia to pay compensation to Georgian citizens illegally deported from the Russian Federation in 2006.

In 2014 final ruling, Grand Chamber of the ECHR found Russia guilty of violating several clauses of the European Convention of Human Rights by detaining and collectively expelling hundreds of Georgian citizens.

In 2019 the Court found that Russia had to pay sums ranging from EUR 2,000 to EUR 15,000 to Georgian victims, total compensation amounting to EUR 10 million.

On February 7, Ministry of Justice of Russia sent a letter to the ECHR, spelling out “serious problems” that purportedly hindered Russia to pay just satisfaction awarded to victims by the ECHR. As claimed by Russian side, the Georgian Government failed to compile a list of case victims based on the criteria defined in the judgment.

Consequently, Russia demanded Georgia provide a final list containing full names and dates of birth of victims, as well as violations established in their respect and the amount of compensation awarded to them. Russia also requested that Georgian Government should cut down the number of victims entitled to compensation to 1500 persons (which currently stands at 1795).  

Georgian media cited Ministry of Justice as saying that Committee of Ministers of Council of Europe is expected to discuss the matter in question in March, 2020.

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