Russia Rejects Dutch Conclusions on Journalist’s Death

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on October 23 that evidence put forth by the Netherlands was not enough to claim that a Dutch cameraman, killed in the August war, was a victim of a Russian cluster bomb.

The Dutch Foreign Ministry said that the cameraman, Stan Storimans, who was killed in the town of Gori on August 12, 2008, was the victim of a cluster munition, propelled by a type of rocket that “is only found in Russia’s military arsenal.” Storimans’ colleague, reporter Jeroen Akkermans, was slightly injured in the same incident.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that it was not possible to make a clear-cut conclusion about the type of ordnance, shrapnel of which hit the cameraman, based on materials provided by the Dutch side.

“Documents and photographs from the scene of Storimans’ death presented by the Dutch side are not sufficient proof that he died as a result of fire by the Russian side,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. 

“Nevertheless, on October 20 [the Dutch] commission [investigating the matter] presented a report in which it is claimed that Storimans died as a result of a Russian SS-26 type tactical ballistic missile – Iskander – carrying cluster bombs,” it continued. “It is regrettable that arguments presented by the Russian side at a meeting [with the representatives of the Dutch commission] in the Russian Foreign Ministry, have not been heard and have not been appropriately reflected in the report.”

"We suggest that establishing the real circumstances will require more thorough work by military experts," the Russian Foreign Ministry said and pointed out that the Georgian side also has cluster bombs.

Although Georgia has acknowledged the use of cluster bombs, it, however, said the munitions were used in unpopulated areas against Russian military targets close to the Roki Tunnel, linking breakaway South Ossetia with Russia.

The Georgian Defense Ministry said in September that it had MK4 LAR 160 type  rockets with M85 bomblets in its arsenal, which were launched from GRADLAR 160 multiple rocket launchers.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)