MOSCOW. Jan 21 (Interfax) - The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has not found Russia responsible for the incidents which occurred in South Ossetia and Abkhazia in 2008 as Georgia's attack on these republics was being repelled, the press service for the Russian Justice Ministry said.
"After trying the case for almost 12 years, the ECHR has come to the conclusion that Russia cannot be held responsible under the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom for the incidents that occurred as Russian troops repelled the Georgian army's attacks on the peacekeeping contingent and the local civilian population on August 8-12, 2008," the press service said in a report obtained by Interfax on Thursday.
The court "did not support the statements of the Georgian authorities concerning an alleged invasion by the Russian Armed Forces in the territory of South Ossetia on August 7, 2008, that is, before the Georgian troops' attack on the city of Tskhinval," it said.