Did Georgia Violate international law in August 2008 conflict with Research Paper

Did Georgia Violate international law in August 2008 conflict with Russia - Research Paper Example As Georgia sought to gain its independence, South Ossetia wanted to gain its independence from Georgia as well (BBC News, â€Å"Europe). Separatist movements disturbed the peace too often in the region and consequently, Soviet troops were sent into South Ossetia as peacekeeping forces (BBC News, â€Å"Europe†). Armed and violent conflicts went on until 1992 when Georgia, South Ossetia and Russia agreed that peacekeeping forces (from their countries) should be deployed to the region. South Ossetia was subsequently restored as a territory of Georgia. However, things did not improve for South Ossetia. In 2006, the territory voted overwhelmingly in favour of independence from Georgia (BBC News â€Å"Europe†). This move was supported and favoured by Russia. This further increased the tension between Russia and Georgia. This brewing tension in the region finally came to a head when, in early August of 2008, Georgian troops clashed with separatist forces in South Ossetia. Thi s clash escalated into an aerial bombardment and ground attack by Georgia against South Ossetia on the 7th of August. Following said attack, Georgia took control of Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia (Jotman, â€Å"Georgia-Conflict with Russia†). As claimed by the Russians, many of their citizens in South Ossetia were endangered. This prompted their attack on Georgia and their deployment of troops into South Ossetia. After several days, Russia was able to drive away Georgian troops and take control of Tskhinvali (Jotman, â€Å"Georgia-Conflict with Russia†). Russia also drove away Georgian forces in Abkhazia and later occupied other parts of Georgia (BBC News â€Å"Europe†). After a ceasefire agreement which was mediated by French President Sarkozy, Russia pulled out its forces towards South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It still however maintained its control on Ossetia’s borders. This

'The law related to cases of mistaken identity illustrates a tension Essay

'The law related to cases of mistaken identity illustrates a tension between calls for certainty and calls for fairness'. Discuss - Essay Example It may be argued that methods to find the truth are not supplementary to each other and these should not be so, because there is nothing absolute. But at the same time mere insistence on any one of these methods could be disastrous. Cases as to mistaken identity, whatever the reason for the same may be, had resulted in number of convictions of innocent people in past and decisions of jury on question of fact has been questioned. No doubt, there was a time when eye witness was the only source to prove an occurrence of crime as well as the identity of the criminal, but today, it is not the case. DNA testing, audio visual aids, scientific investigatory gadgets like GPS etc. have provided additional complimentary tools to prove or unprove the guilt and these are attracting attention of jurists and law. The same is indicating a switch toward call for certainty rather than call for fairness in criminal procedures and establishment of guilt. Fairness implies that all rights of the accused in connection with the trails are secured. Defendant is provided a fair chance to prove his innocence by defending himself and contradicting the evidences provided by the prosecution. It also indicates consistency in application of law and non discriminatory attitude towards the parties. However, capacity of jury to make informed judgment about the fact of an incident and involvement of accused is largely dependant on evidence and its presentation by the attorneys on both sides. There might be all fairness on part of jury as it is based on proofs and testimonies of witnesses but can this fairness removes all the chances of wrong convictions? The answer is ‘NO’. There are always chances of wrong decisions and thus wrong convictions. So should there be any step further towards ascertainment of facts? The answer is definitely in affirmation. Fairness is not all about application of law and procedures in fair way, but also introduction of fair laws and procedures.