If the Georgian authorities backtrack on a decision to file a lawsuit to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding the abuse of the rights of Georgians deported from Russia it will illustrate a softening of their stance against their northern neighbor, opposition lawmakers said on February 2.

Non-partisan opposition MP Gia Tortladze and MP Giorgi Tsagareishvili from the opposition Industrialist Party are both members of the parliamentary commission that was set up to look into reported cases of human rights abuses against Georgians in Russia. According to the commission, about 3 000 ethnic Georgians have been “illegally” deported from Russia since last October. Justice Minister Gia Kavtaradze said on October 31 that the Georgian authorities were preparing to file a lawsuit with the ECHR.

“Mr. Kavtaradze should be brought forward [by the commission] to explain what will happen with this lawsuit,” MP Giorgi Tsagareishvili told Rustavi 2 TV.