Russia Ordered to pay Over €250 Million by European Court of Human Rights in Georgia Case
STRASBOURG, France – The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that Russia must pay over €250 million in compensation to victims of human rights violations stemming from the 2008 conflict with Georgia and subsequent actions in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The judgment, issued today, addresses a case brought by Georgia alleging widespread abuses related to the establishment of administrative demarcation lines and their impact on the civilian population.
While the ruling legally obligates Russia to pay, enforcement is considered highly unlikely. The agency emphasized this, noting that Russia was excluded from the Council of Europe – where the ECtHR operates – following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. despite remaining theoretically responsible for past violations,Moscow no longer recognizes the ECtHR’s rulings as binding and has refused to pay previous fines.
The ECtHR determined the compensation is due to over 23,000 Georgians subjected to “illegal restrictions” limiting access to their homes, land, and families – a violation of their right to private and family life and protection of property. Additional compensation will be awarded to those deprived of education in the Georgian language and approximately 2,500 individuals unlawfully detained after crossing the demarcation lines.
The ruling follows a 2023 ECtHR decision establishing Russia’s obligation for establishing the administrative demarcation lines within Georgian territory. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe continues to monitor the implementation of the Court’s judgments against Russia, reiterating Moscow’s obligation to comply.
The conflict between Russia and Georgia erupted in August 2008, following provocations involving Ossetian and Russian actors.The five-day war resulted in Russia blocking Georgia’s path to NATO membership and effectively ceding control of the separatist republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to Tbilisi.