Azernews.Az

A senior Russian lawmaker has called for raising the issue of arresting the leaders of Georgia, which has lately faced a brief war with Russia.
Aleksei Klishin, member of the Federation Council (upper chamber of parliament) and deputy chairman of the Committee for Legal Affairs, urged to put pressure on Georgian officials, to the letter of international law.
"Russia`s legislation allows arraigning and declaring an international search for those responsible for the deaths of our peacekeepers and Russian citizens in South Ossetia [Georgia`s rebel region]," the MP said.
Klishin reminded that Russia`s prosecutor`s office has launched a criminal case on "genocide" charges against the culprits of Russian nationals` killings. He said that though these persons were killed outside their home country`s territory, Russian laws allow to prosecute Georgian officials over this.
"If a suspect dodges preliminary investigation, he may face a federal search and an international one afterwards," he said.
Tensions escalated in Georgia`s unrecognized republic of South Ossetia early last month. Russia sent troops to the region and pounded Georgian positions after Tbilisi launched an offensive to retake the pro-Russian, self-proclaimed region. Military action ended after five days of deadly fighting. Under a ceasefire agreement reached with France`s mediation on August 17, Russia and Georgia agreed to return to the positions they held prior to the outbreak of hostilities.