Georgia’s Ministry of Justice has announced it is suing Russia in the European Court of Human Rights for departing Georgian citizens illegally, the UPI reported March 26.

“The lawsuit is based on thousands of instances of serious violations of human rights of Georgian citizens and ethnic Georgians during their deportation from Russia,” the Georgian ministry said in a statement.

The Georgians are expected to present evidence indicating that citizens were subjected to inhumane treatment at Moscow’s police detention centers during deportation proceedings. They are also expected to present documents proving the deported Georgians were in Russia legally.

Tensions rose between the two countries last year when four Russians were arrested in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, on spying charges and Russia retaliated with the deportation of hundreds of Georgians and cut off mail and transport to and from Tbilisi.

Mikhail Kamynin, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said “such actions by Tbilisi officials will not help the two countries normalize bilateral relations, which Russia is striving for.”

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