On 25 July 2017, the Registrar of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Mr Herman von Hebel, on behalf of the Court, visited Tbilisi and signed an agreement with the Government of Georgia, to facilitate the Court’s activities and ongoing investigations in the country.
“This agreement will facilitate the expeditious fulfilment of the ICC’s mandate within the territory of Georgia, said ICC Registrar von Hebel at the signature Ceremony. “This is a common goal for all of us: to bring justice to the victims of the 2008 conflict,” he added.
This agreement builds on the legal obligations of Georgia as a State party to the ICC Rome Statute since 2003 and the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities. It offers a clear channel of communications between the Government and the ICC for purposes of assistance and notification as well as cooperation, including on measures required for the security of the persons interacting with the ICC.
During his visit, the Registrar also held a meeting with different actors of the civil society focused on raising awareness and making ICC proceedings accessible to the general public and the communities affected by the 2008 conflict.
Background: On 27 January 2016, ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I authorised the Prosecutor to proceed with an investigation for the crimes within the ICC jurisdiction, allegedly committed in and around South Ossetia, Georgia, between 1 July and 10 October 2008. On 13 October 2015, the ICC Prosecutor submitted her “Request for authorisation of an investigation pursuant to article 15” of the Rome Statute, asking for authorization from Pre-Trial Chamber I to proceed with an investigation into the situation in Georgia, for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in and around South Ossetia in 2008. On 4 December 2015, the Chamber received the representations by or on behalf of 6,335 victims on this matter.
For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson/Head, Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or 31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected]
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