FIDH calls upon the conflicting parties to stop all the attacks against civilian population, to ensure safe and unrestricted access to humanitarian aid and to allow free access to journalists and independent observers, including from the OSCE.
FIDH welcomes the decision of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to analyse the attacks against civilians during the conflict. Indeed, the ICC Prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo confirmed on Wednesday that his office is considering carefully all information related to alleged crimes within its jurisdiction, committed by all parties.
«Although there is no reliable data available about the number of victims, heavy civilian casualties have been reported, in blatant violation of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, to which both Georgia and Russia are parties. The European Union should now take a firm stand to ensure the full compliance with the ceasefire agreement by both parties», declared Souhayr Belhassen, FIDH president.
FIDH also calls upon the European Union and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to pursue their efforts for a sustainable solution to the conflict. FIDH also calls upon European Union member states to address humanitarian needs of civilians, including by welcoming them, if necessary, on their respective territories.
FIDH is worried that a campaign against Georgian citizens living in Russia is being launched, as it already happened in the autumn 2006, and calls on Russian authorities to take all necessary measures to prevent it.