26 Sep 2019 20:18

CoE Committee of Ministers urges Russia to pay 10 mln euros to deported Georgians under ECHR judgment

TBILISI. Sept 26 (Interfax) - The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers has called on Russia to comply with a European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgment on paying Georgian citizens deported from Russia in 2006 compensation amounting to 10 million euros, the Georgian Justice Ministry said on Thursday.

The Committee made this statement after hearing Georgia's complaint that Russia still not paid the compensation awarded by the ECHR on September 23-25, the ministry said.

"The committee agreed with the Georgian government's arguments and called on Russia to immediately pay the compensation," it said.

The Committee additionally said in its statement that, as Russia has missed the deadline for paying the compensation (April 30, 2019), it will also have to pay the accumulated interest.

The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers insisted that paying compensation is Russia's unconditional obligation, based on Article 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

In spite of disagreement expressed by Russian representatives, the Committee granted Georgia's demand and scheduled the next debates on the matter for the next meeting, which is to be held in December, the Georgian Justice Ministry said.

It was reported earlier that Russia must pay compensation to at least 1,500 Georgian citizens under the said ECHR judgment.