MOSCOW, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Russia has evidence to pursue war crimes charges against people who broke international law during Georgia's assault on South Ossetia, a Russian official said.
Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Russian Investigation Committee, said investigators have documented evidence to try certain individuals, RIA Novosti reported.
"The phase of gathering evidence in South Ossetia has been completed," Bastrykin, said. "Investigators have obtained ample and unbiased evidence for the future trials of those people who committed crimes (in South Ossetia)."
Evidence suggests that "the aggressor's goal was the total destruction of the Ossetian ethnic group" he added.
South Ossetia has said that more than 1,500 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Georgia's attack on the republic in August. After the attack, the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali was left in ruins, the Russian news service reported.
