ICJ begins public hearings on Ukraine’s genocide claims against Russia

ICJ begins public hearings on Ukraine’s genocide claims against Russia

War in Ukraine

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague has started public hearings regarding Russia’s preliminary objections in the case of genocide.

The Russian side will speak in court first, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The representatives of 32 countries, which joined the case with their interventions, are present in the court room. They will also have an opportunity to speak in court.

This is an unprecedented case with 34 out of 193 member states of the United Nations (i.e. about 20%) taking part in the judicial action.

The court will hold a hearing on jurisdiction, and if the court finds that it has jurisdiction and that the claim is admissible in whole or in part, then the next step is to hear the case on its merits.

The court hearing can be followed online.

A reminder that the hearings will be held in two rounds. Russia will speak on September 18 and September 25. The Ukrainian side will present its arguments on September 19 and September 27.

On September 20, the representatives of 32 countries will speak in court.

The dispute concerns the interpretation, application and enforcement of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

In a lawsuit filed against the Russian Federation with the UN International Court of Justice, Ukraine demands that Russia be held accountable for distorting the concept of ‘genocide’.

Ukraine filed the suit on February 26, 2022, two days after Russia unleashed a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Kremlin had accused Kyiv of genocide, which Ukraine allegedly committed in Donbas, starting in 2014, and used it as a pretext for invading the country on February 24, 2022.

Tags

Related articles

Istanbul May Host Next Russia-Ukraine Talks
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Istanbul might host a second round of Russia-Ukraine negotiations, following talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Moscow.
Russia-Ukraine Swap Completed
US President Donald Trump announced Friday that a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine has been completed.
Ukraine Open to Ceasefire Deal with Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is open to signing a ceasefire memorandum with Russia, following a major phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
EU Ministers Discuss Ukraine Aid, Rearmament
BRUSSELS – EU defence and foreign ministers will meet Tuesday in Brussels for successive sessions of the Foreign Affairs Council, focusing on support for Ukraine, the Middle East situation, and Europe’s rearmament plans.
Putin and Trump Discuss Ukraine Ceasefire
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that he had a nearly two-hour phone call with US President Donald Trump to discuss a possible ceasefire and ways to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
Erdogan, Scholz Meet in Tirana
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit in Tirana on Friday.
Trump Ready to Meet Putin to End War
US President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin “as soon as we can set it up” to help end the Russia-Ukraine war.