European Human Rights Court in Strasbourg to hold verbal hearing on Georgians` deportation from Russia

European Human Rights Court in Strasbourg will begin hearings on the complaint filed by Georgia regarding the deportation of Georgian nationals on ethnic grounds from Russia in 2006. The court will hear to those Georgians, who emerge in the lawsuit as witnesses.

Georgia filed a lawsuit against Russia in Strasbourg Court on March 26, 2007. The lawsuit is attached with documentary evidences, proving that the Georgians were deported from Russia on ethnic grounds. This is the only complaint filed by a government filed in the EHRC.

Russia launched mass deportation of ethnic Georgians after the spy row in 2006, when Georgia detained and deported a group of Russian military servicemen, who were accused of spying for Russia.

The hearings will last a week. The court will first interrogate Georgian and then Russian witnesses. Georgian ombudsman Giorgi Tughushi will be also interrogated at the hearing.