Ukraine v. Russia : International Court Of Justice Concludes Hearing Ukraine's Application; Russia Refuses To Appear [LIVE UPDATES]
The International Court of Justice at Hague is hearing the application by Ukraine against Russia in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.In its Application, Ukraine contends, inter alia, that :"...the Russian Federation has falsely claimed that acts of genocide have occurred in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts...
The International Court of Justice at Hague is hearing the application by Ukraine against Russia in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
In its Application, Ukraine contends, inter alia, that :
"...the Russian Federation has falsely claimed that acts of genocide have occurred in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts of Ukraine, and on that basis recognized the so-called 'Donetsk People's Republic' and 'Luhansk People's Republic', and then declared and implemented a 'special military operation' against Ukraine"
Ukraine "emphatically denies" that such genocide has occurred and states that it submitted the Application "to establish that Russia has no lawful basis to take action in and against Ukraine for the purpose of preventing and punishing any purported genocide".
In the Application, Ukraine also accuses the Russian Federation of "planning acts of genocide in Ukraine" and contends that Russia "is intentionally killing and inflicting serious injury on members of the Ukrainian nationality the actus reus of genocide under Article II of the [Genocide] Convention".
The Applicant seeks to found the Court's jurisdiction on Article 36, paragraph 1, of the Statute of the Court and on Article IX of the Genocide Convention, to which both States are parties.
Together with the Application, Ukraine filed a Request for the indication of provisional measures against Russia.
The hearing is live-streamed here.
Live-Updates from the hearing are posted below :
Ukraine ends its oral arguments. President of ICJ Judge Joan Donoghue states that the Court will render its decision on #Ukraine's application as soon as possible.
The sitting is declared closed.
Hearing ends.
Ukraine: We don't know yet the true number of Ukrainians that #Russia has murdered in the past 11 days. We can only guess how many more will be murdered in the next 11 days if this senseless aggression does not stop.
Ukraine: If this Court cannot decisively order #Russia to stop its military actions in flagrant abuse of the Genocide Convention, why should any P- 5 UN member see international law as a meaningful obstacle to whatever it may perceive as necessary.
Ukraine: If this Court does not act decisively against this level of aggression and atrocity based on outrageous abuse of one of the world's most important human rights treaties, rest assured this would not be the last such case.
Ukraine: The Court's limited role at this juncture is to order the urgent measures of protection that we request.
Ukraine: President Putin's short game is force, the world's long game is law. For the other institutions to do their job inside and outside the UN system, first you must do your's.
Ukraine: In time #Ukraine will seek for reparations from Russia. For now, we seek only provisional measures.
Ukraine: To be clear, the relief we request will not be the final relief requested. On merits, #Ukraine wilk seek final declarations of illegality, specific assurances, guarantees of non- repetition that #Russia will not take any unlawful measures against #Ukraine.
Ukraine: Whether or not #Russia chooses to appear and defend in these proceedings, it would be subject to the Court's prima facie jurisdiction under the Convention and should be required to account for its compliance with binding orders of this Court.
Ukraine: #Ukraine requests this Court to request #Russia to prevent any aggravation of the dispute by refraining from any action and providing assurances that no action is taken that may aggravate this dispute or render it more difficult to resolve.