EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
581, Press release issued by the Registrar
The European Court of Human Rights has today indicated to the Government of the Russian Federation interim measures under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court.
On 11 August 2008 the Georgian Government requested the Court to indicate to the Government of the Russian Federation interim measures to the effect that the Russian Government should "refrain from taking any measures which may threaten the life or state of health of the civilian population and to allow the Georgian emergency forces to carry out all the necessary measures in order to provide assistance to the remaining injured civilian population and soldiers via humanitarian corridor". The Agent of the Georgian Government informed the Court that this request was made in the context of an application directed against the Russian Federation alleging violations of Articles 2 (right to life) and 3 (prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment) of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 (protection of property) to the Convention.
The terms of the Court's decision are as follows:
"On 12 August 2008 the President of the Court, acting as President of Chamber, decided to apply Rule 39 of the Rules of Court (interim measures) considering that the current situation gives rise to a real and continuing risk of serious violations of the Convention. With a view to preventing such violations and pursuant to Rule 39, the President calls upon both the High Contracting Parties concerned to comply with their engagements under the Convention particularly in respect of Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention.
In accordance with Rule 39 =A7 3, the President further requests both Governments concerned to inform the Court of the measures taken to ensure that the Convention is fully complied with."
Rule 39 of the Rules of the Court (Interim measures):
"1. The Chamber or, where appropriate, its President may, at the request of a party or of any other person concerned, or of its own motion, indicate to the parties any interim measure which it considers should be adopted in the interests of the parties or of the proper conduct of the proceedings before it.
2. Notice of these measures shall be given to the Committee of Ministers.
3. The Chamber may request information from the parties on any matter connected with the implementation of any interim measure it has indicated."
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Further information about the Court can be found on its Internet site (http://www.echr.coe.int).
The European Court of Human Rights was set up in Strasbourg by the Council of Europe Member States in 1959 to deal with alleged violations of the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights.
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