Georgia HUMAN A Dying Practice RIGHTS Use of Cluster Munitions by Russia and Georgia in August 2008 WATCH A Dying Practice Use of Cluster Munitions by Russia and Georgia in August 2008 Copyright © 2009 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 1-56432-469-9 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor New York, NY 10118-3299 USA Tel: +1 212 290 4700, Fax: +1 212 736 1300 [email protected] Poststraße 4-5 10178 Berlin, Germany Tel: +49 30 2593 06-10, Fax: +49 30 2593 0629 [email protected] Avenue des Gaulois, 7 1040 Brussels, Belgium Tel: + 32 (2) 732 2009, Fax: + 32 (2) 732 0471 [email protected] 64-66 Rue de Lausanne 1202 Geneva, Switzerland Tel: +41 22 738 0481, Fax: +41 22 738 1791 [email protected] 2-12 Pentonville Road, 2nd Floor London N1 9HF, UK Tel: +44 20 7713 1995, Fax: +44 20 7713 1800 [email protected] 27 Rue de Lisbonne 75008 Paris, France Tel: +33 (1)43 59 55 35, Fax: +33 (1) 43 59 55 22 [email protected] 1630 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 500 Washington, DC 20009 USA Tel: +1 202 612 4321, Fax: +1 202 612 4333 [email protected] Web Site Address: http://www.hrw.org April 2009 1-56432-469-9 A Dying Practice Use of Cluster Munitions by Russia and Georgia in August 2008 Acronyms ........................................................................................................................................... i Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 6 Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... 8 To the Government of Russia ................................................................................................ 8 To the Government of Georgia .............................................................................................. 9 To All Governments ............................................................................................................. 10 Technical and Legal Background on Cluster Munitions ..................................................................... 11 Cluster Munitions and their Humanitarian Effects ....................................................................... 12 Existing International Humanitarian Law .................................................................................... 13 The Principle of Distinction .................................................................................................. 13 Feasible Precautions ........................................................................................................... 14 International Humanitarian Law Applied to Cluster Munitions .................................................... 14 Indiscriminate Use of Cluster Munitions .............................................................................. 14 Disproportionate Use of Cluster Munitions .......................................................................... 15 The Requirement to Take Precautions .................................................................................. 16 Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War ................................................................................... 16 The Convention on Cluster Munitions ......................................................................................... 17 Key Provisions of the Convention on Cluster Munitions ........................................................ 17 The Importance of Joining the Convention on Cluster Munitions ........................................... 18 The Belligerents and the Cluster Munitions Used ............................................................................ 20 Use, Production, Transfer, and Stockpiling ................................................................................ 20 Russia ................................................................................................................................. 21 Georgia ............................................................................................................................... 23 Cluster Munitions Used in Georgia and their Submunitions ........................................................ 24 AO-2.5 RTM Submunition .................................................................................................... 24 9N210 Submunition ............................................................................................................ 25 Iskander Missile .................................................................................................................. 25 M85 Submunition ............................................................................................................... 25 Use of Cluster Munitions by Russia .................................................................................................. 40 Civilian Casualties at the Time of Attack ..................................................................................... 41 Gori City .............................................................................................................................. 41 Ruisi ................................................................................................................................... 43 Variani ................................................................................................................................ 47 Other Strikes ............................................................................................................................. 50 Socioeconomic Harm ................................................................................................................. 52 Russian Statements about Cluster Munitions ............................................................................. 52 Legal Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 54 Use of Cluster Munitions by Georgia ................................................................................................ 56 Civilian Casualties at the Time of Attack ..................................................................................... 57 Shindisi .............................................................................................................................. 58 Tirdznisi .............................................................................................................................. 58 Civilian Casualties from Submunition Duds ................................................................................ 59 Brotsleti .............................................................................................................................. 59 Pkhvenisi ............................................................................................................................ 61 Shindisi .............................................................................................................................. 61 Ditsi ................................................................................................................................... 62 Socioeconomic Harm ................................................................................................................ 62 Georgian Statements about Cluster Munitions ........................................................................... 63 Initial Condemnation .......................................................................................................... 64 Acknowledgment of Use ..................................................................................................... 64 Confusion and Investigation ................................................................................................ 65 Legal Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 67 Clearance and Risk Education ......................................................................................................... 69 Russian Military ........................................................................................................................ 69 Georgian Military ....................................................................................................................... 70 NGO Clearance .......................................................................................................................... 72 Community Clearance ................................................................................................................ 74 Challenges ................................................................................................................................ 75 Coordination ....................................................................................................................... 75 Resource Shortages ............................................................................................................ 76 Environmental Factors ......................................................................................................... 76 Complications from Civilians ..............................................................................................