Russia extends probe into genocide claims

MOSCOW, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The investigation into claims of genocide and mass murder of civilians in the 2008 Georgia-Russia war was extended to February 2010, a Russian official said.

Vladimir Markin, a spokesperson for Russia's Investigative Committee, said the probe was extended to allow more time for a report to be submitted to the European Court of Human Rights and the International Criminal Court, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported Friday.

Russian officials and media said more than 162 civilians and 67 Russian service personnel were killed when Georgia and Russia fought over the breakaway republic of South Ossetia last August. Both sides were accused of human rights abuses.

"The evidence gathered during the investigation, the scale of the military aggression, Georgia's early and thorough military, political and informational preparations are confirmation that the attack on South

Ossetia was aimed at destroying the Ossetian population ... and directly planned and organized by the upper political and military echelons of the Georgian administration," Markin said.

Markin said the investigations indicated 17,000 Georgian military personnel were involved, causing more than 33,000 South Ossetians to flee and take refuge outside the republic, RIA Novosti said.

Following the war and Russia's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another former Georgian republic, Georgian officials broke off relations with Moscow.