PACE to continue monitoring Georgia over freedom
15:44 13/04/2011 STRASBOURG, April 13 (RIA Novosti) - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) voted on Wednesday for the further monitoring of Georgia over human rights violations and the political situation in the country.
Georgia attacked South Ossetia in August 2008 in an attempt to bring it back under control. Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent two weeks after the ensuing conflict.
PACE, a consultative body, said Georgia failed to observe such human rights as freedom of movement and the right of displaced persons from the breakaway republics to return home.
It also urged Georgia to investigate all suspected violations of international humanitarian and human rights norms by Georgians in the 2008 armed conflict with Russia over South Ossetia.
PACE was generally upbeat about recent changes in Georgia, including the political situation and the way local elections were held in May 2010. The organization also praised progress in media development and the independence of the courts.
Russia, however, has condemned the report as being too soft and overly optimistic about the real situation.
"We have kept in contact with the Georgian opposition, we have contacts with the Georgian ruling parties, and the picture they describe is far from the bright and happy one described in the [PACE] report," said Konstantin Kosachev, Russia's chief delegate to the PACE and head of the Duma international affairs committee.
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