TBILISI -- Georgia has filed a case against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights over the alleged torture and killing of a Georgian soldier taken prisoner during the countries' August 2008 war, RFE/RL's Georgian Service reports.
Georgian soldier Giorgi Antsukhelidze was reported missing from Tskhinvali on August 9, 2008. His was one of several soldiers' dead bodies returned to Tbilisi from South Ossetia in November 2008.
Antsukhelidze's wife, Maka Chikviladze, did not know the circumstances of his death until late 2009 when graphic videos were shown on the Internet allegedly showing Russian soldiers torturing a Georgian soldier who appeared to be Antsukhelidze.
The videos are a key piece of evidence in the case.
"The Russian soldiers are accused of violating the basic human right to live, as well as the principles of freedom and the prohibition on torture," Nino Khaindrava of the Georgian Young Lawyers, said.
She said Antsukhelidze was targeted simply because he was a Georgian.
Khaindrava said she believes the European Court of Human Rights will rule in favor of Antsukhelidze's family.
Georgia reported 42 of its soldiers were captured and 162 killed when Russian and Georgian forces fought a five-day war in August 2008 over Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia.
Georgian soldier Giorgi Antsukhelidze was reported missing from Tskhinvali on August 9, 2008. His was one of several soldiers' dead bodies returned to Tbilisi from South Ossetia in November 2008.
Antsukhelidze's wife, Maka Chikviladze, did not know the circumstances of his death until late 2009 when graphic videos were shown on the Internet allegedly showing Russian soldiers torturing a Georgian soldier who appeared to be Antsukhelidze.
The videos are a key piece of evidence in the case.
"The Russian soldiers are accused of violating the basic human right to live, as well as the principles of freedom and the prohibition on torture," Nino Khaindrava of the Georgian Young Lawyers, said.
She said Antsukhelidze was targeted simply because he was a Georgian.
Khaindrava said she believes the European Court of Human Rights will rule in favor of Antsukhelidze's family.
Georgia reported 42 of its soldiers were captured and 162 killed when Russian and Georgian forces fought a five-day war in August 2008 over Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia.