The U.N.'s highest court has scheduled three days of hearings next month about Georgia's request to order Russia to stop attacks on ethnic Georgians.
Georgia claims the attacks amount to a persistent campaign of racial discrimination.
The International Court of Justice says it will hear arguments from both sides beginning Sept. 8 at its seat in The Hague.
Georgia has filed a suit seeking compensation for what it claims are nearly two decades of ethnic cleansing of Georgians in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia so far has not responded to Georgia's claims.
By scheduling the hearings, the court responded Friday to Georgia's request for emergency action to halt operations by Russia and Russian-backed separatists.
