TBILISI, DFWatch–A group of eight persons will study crimes commited during and after the Russia-Georgia war in August, 2008.

Following a decision by Chief Prosecutor Archil Kbilashvili, representatives of three bodies will sit in the investigative group and study crimes and events in the 2008 war: the Chief Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Interinal Affairs and the military police department of the Ministry of Defense.

According to the prosecutor’s statement, Miranda Melkadze, Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Department of the Prosecutor’s Office, and Medea Rosebashvili, Deputy Chairman of the legal department of that office, will coordinate the process.

In November 2008, the National Movement government held a hearing about events in the war which many saw as insufficient because views critical of President Saakashvili’s actions were suppressed. The new Ivanishvili led government recently made a decision to re-investigate the events of the war.

Government officials said this may require questioning President Mikheil Saakashvili and former military officials. Although the new investigation is not expected to delve into who started the war, Saakashvili and his party members criticize the government’s decision, and the president said he will refuse to cooperate with such an ‘anti-state’ investigation.