Georgian Rape Victim Sues Russia, Georgia

A Georgian woman who was allegedly raped during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war has filed a lawsuit in the European Court of Justice against both the Russian and Georgian governments.

The woman, whose identity has not been made public, said that four gunmen of non-Georgian ethnic origin entered her home near the South Ossetia conflict zone and raped and robbed her, the GHN news agency reported on March 8.

Two Georgian non-governmental groups, Human Rights Priority and the Caucasus Women Network, filed the suit on the victim's behalf, the Interpessnews agency reported.

Human Rights Priority Caucasus Chairperson Lia Muhashavria told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Georgian service that the Russian Federation exercised effective control of the area where the incident happened and, therefore, is responsible for criminal acts committed there. The Georgian government, she added, also shares responsibility since it neither evacuated nor warned local residents about potential dangers after the Russian army, along with South Ossetian militia units, advanced into Georgian territory.

Since the war, the Strasbourg court has been flooded with complaints from Georgia, but this is the first instance when an alleged victim of sexual violence from Georgia has addressed the European Court of Justice.