Russian–Georgian war crimes and its outcomes

Abstract

Introduction

Georgia is the Country located in Caucasian Region with two occupied territories: Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Since 1993 as a result of military actions 500,000 civilians became victims of ethnic cleansing. In October 13, 2015 the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, requests judges for authorization to open an investigation into the Situation in Georgia that clearly shows importance of the problem addressed by this study.

Objectives of the study includes

Observation of outcomes of traumatic stress among three categories of victims: IDPs, population living in the military conflict zone and civilians living in the so called “Buffer Zone”. Aim of the study was to provide comparative analysis between trauma affected different groups.

Methods

The clinical and paraclinical methods using the semi–structured clinical interview, psychological test battery and paraclinical diagnostic tests were used, analysis were provided by using the SPSS.

Results

Based on observation in 2014–2015 n = 150 victims of war crimes were observed. Also additional stressors for all target groups were identified. Differences and similarities of psychological and somatic after effects of trauma revealed.

Conclusions

We can conclude that prolonged stress situation with unsecured environment and daily life under unexpected circumstances caused prolongation of PTSD alongside of behavioral changes and with damages in social adaptation. On the other hand completed trauma with leaving of native living areas and significant changes in social life in most of cases caused emotional disturbances with prolonged chronic depression and persistent fillings of grief.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.