UN Human Rights Committee worked out its concluding observations about Russia at the session held on March 31, 2015. The Committee has adopted its observations on the basis of the report submitted by Russian Federation to UN on March 16-17, 2015 and information proposed by NGOs. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) and National Institute for Human Rights (NHIR) in cooperation with Human Rights Priority (HRP) submitted an alternative report at the session.
In view of information submitted by GYLA and partner organizations, in its observations, along with other issues, UN focuses on the armed conflicts in Ukraine and in Georgia,: “ The Committee is concerned at reports alleging serious violations of the Covenant in the Donbas region of Ukraine by forces over which the State party appears to have considerable influence which may amount to effective control. It is also concerned at reports that allegations of serious violations of the Covenant committed during the armed conflict in the South Ossetia region of Georgia in 2008 were not fully investigated (art. 2). The Committee … calls on the State party to ensure the application of the Covenant in respect of acts perpetrated by armed groups and proclaimed authorities of the self-proclaimed ‘Donetsk people’s republic’, ‘Luhansk people’s republic’, and ‘South Ossetia’, to the extent that it already exercises influence over these groups and authorities which amounts to effective control over their activities.”
Moreover, alternative report of GYLA and other partner organizations also entails human rights violation facts of Russian Federation against citizens of Georgia during the August 2008 war and instances of illegal construction of wire fences and unlawful detention of Georgians in the conflict zone by Russian and Ossetian militaries.
