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Georgia Georgia: Satellite Images Show Destruction, Ethnic Attacks Russia Should Investigate, Prosecute Crimes Recent satellite images released by the UN program UNOSAT confirm the widespread torching of ethnic Georgian villages inside South Ossetia, Human Rights Watch said today. Detailed analysis of the damage depicted in five ethnic Georgian villages shows the destruction of these villages around the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, was caused by intentional burning and not armed combat. August 28, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version EU: Protect Civilians in Gori District Security of Civilians Should Be Central to Summit Discussions on Russia The European Union should act to protect Georgian civilians from continued attacks by Ossetian militias and opportunistic violence, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called on the European Union to use its unprecedented summit on Russia on September 1 to make a plan for ensuring protection for civilians in Georgia. August 27, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Letter to President Nicolas Sarkozy in Advance of the September 1 Emergency Summit We are writing in advance of the emergency Summit of EU Heads of State and Government to be held on September 1st, to urge you to take very concrete steps to: enhance the protection of civilians in areas affected by the armed conflict between Russia and Georgia; facilitate the safe and voluntary return of the thousands of displaced; and, to advance accountability for serious human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law committed by all parties to the conflict. August 27, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Law on Occupation and Effective Control 1. When does the law on occupation apply to the Russian presence in Georgia? Territory is considered "occupied" when it is comes under the control or authority of foreign armed forces, whether partially or entirely, without the consent of the domestic government. This is a factual determination, and the reasons or motives that lead to the occupation or are the basis for continued occupation are irrelevant. Even if the foreign armed forces meet no armed resistance and there is no fighting, once territory comes under the effective control of the foreign armed forces the laws on occupation are applicable. Therefore wherever Russian forces exercise effective control of an area in Georgian territory, including in South Ossetia or Abkhazia, without the consent or agreement of the Georgian government, for the purposes of international humanitarian law it is an occupying power and must adhere to its obligations as such. August 26, 2008 Questions and Answers Printer friendly version Georgia: a challenge for Europe By Tom Porteous, London director Published in Guardian online As Russia withdraws its troops, the EU could help the ceasefire stick by deploying a vital civilian protection mission. August 24, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Georgia: Civilians Bear the Brunt of Conflict
August 21, 2008 Graphic The Economist - A Caucasian journey The road from Tbilisi to Vladikavkaz told several stories this week: of Russia’s advance into Georgia, of Georgia’s economic success and its disastrous foray into South Ossetia, of the biggest confrontation between Russia and the West since the cold war. August 21, 2008 Media Georgia: Civilians Killed by Russian Cluster Bomb ‘Duds’ More Attacks Confirmed; Unexploded Ordnance Threatens Many Georgian and Russian authorities should take urgent measures to protect the civilian population in Georgian villages from unexploded ordnance left by Russian attacks, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch researchers documented additional Russian cluster munitions attacks during the conflict in Georgia, refuting Russia’s earlier denials that it used the weapon. August 20, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Russian Attacks in Georgia Show Need for Convention on Cluster Munitions By Bonnie Docherty, Researcher Published in JURIST Russia has not only caused civilian casualties with its use of cluster munitions in Georgia, but it has also blatantly disregarded the international decision to ban the weapons. In the process, Russia has demonstrated that states around the world cannot become complacent about the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which 107 of them adopted in May. They must sign and ratify the treaty as soon as possible so that its obligations enter into force and its stigmatization power grows. August 19, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Georgia: International Groups Should Send Missions Investigate Violations and Protect Civilians Mounting evidence that Russian and Georgian military used armed force unlawfully during the South Ossetian conflict highlights the need for international fact-finding missions in Georgia, Human Rights Watch said today. Ongoing militia attacks and a growing humanitarian crisis also indicate the urgent need for the deployment of a mission to enhance civilian protection. August 17, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Russia/Georgia: Militias Attack Civilians in Gori Region Russia Should Curb Militias and Allow in Humanitarian Aid Russian authorities should immediately take steps to end Ossetian militia attacks on ethnic Georgians in the Gori district of Georgia, Human Rights Watch said today. The Russian military should also ensure safe passage for civilians wishing to leave the region and for humanitarian aid agencies to enter. August 16, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Georgia: Russian Cluster Bombs Kill Civilians Stop Using Weapon Banned by 107 Nations Human Rights Watch researchers have uncovered evidence that Russian aircraft dropped cluster bombs in populated areas in Georgia, killing at least 11 civilians and injuring dozens. August 15, 2008 Video Q & A: Violence in South Ossetia 1. What’s going on in South Ossetia? Violence has escalated in South Ossetia, a breakaway province of Georgia and one of the “frozen conflicts” of the former Soviet Union. The conflict heated up dramatically in the early morning of August 8, 2008. Georgia declared that it intended to restore constitutional order and launched a large-scale military offensive. Russia sent additional troops to South Ossetia, saying they were reinforcements to Russian peacekeepers who are in the area to monitor a 1992 ceasefire between Georgian and South Ossetian forces. August 15, 2008 Questions and Answers Also available in
Printer friendly version Georgia: Russian Cluster Bombs Kill Civilians Stop Using Weapon Banned by 107 Nations Human Rights Watch researchers have uncovered evidence that Russian aircraft dropped cluster bombs in populated areas in Georgia, killing at least 11 civilians and injuring dozens, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called upon Russia to immediately stop using cluster bombs, weapons so dangerous to civilians that more than 100 nations have agreed to ban their use. August 14, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Russia/Georgia: Investigate Civilian Deaths High Toll from Attacks on Populated Areas Forces on both sides in the conflict between Georgia and Russia appear to have killed and injured civilians through indiscriminate attacks, respectively, on the towns of Gori and Tskhinvali, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch expressed its deep concern over the apparently indiscriminate nature of the attacks that have taken such a toll on civilians. August 13, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Georgian Villages in South Ossetia Burnt, Looted (Java, August 13, 2008) – Human Rights Watch researchers in South Ossetia on August 12, 2008, saw ethnic Georgian villages still burning from fires set by South Ossetian militias, witnessed looting by the militias, and learned firsthand of the plight of ethnic Ossetian villagers who had fled Georgian soldiers during the Georgian-Russian conflict over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. August 13, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Safe Corridor Urgently Needed for Civilians in Gori District (Tbilisi, August 13, 2008) – Human Rights Watch in Tbilisi has received alarming reports that civilians are trapped in villages in the Gori district of Georgia that are currently under Ossetian control. August 13, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Georgia/Russia: Use of Rocket Systems Can Harm Civilians Human Rights Watch is deeply concerned about the use of indiscriminate weapons, particularly Grad and Uragan rockets, in populated areas during the conflict over South Ossetia. August 12, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Georgia/Russia: Update on Casualties and Displaced Civilians Human Rights Watch is concerned about the lack of accurate information on the conflict in South Ossetia and other parts of Georgia, specifically the dramatically different reports on the number of civilians killed and wounded, as well as the number of people displaced by the conflict. August 10, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Georgia/Russia: Do Not Attack Civilians in South Ossetia Georgia and Russia should not under any circumstances target civilians as the current hostilities intensify in South Ossetia, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch, concerned by reports of attacks targeting civilians, called on all sides to respect the absolute ban against targeting civilians or carrying out attacks that indiscriminately harm civilians. August 8, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
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