The International Court of Justice in The Hague has begun hearings on Ukraine’s lawsuit against Russia over an alleged violation of the Genocide Convention due to a special military operation in Ukraine. However, according to the Russian delegate, Maria Zabolotskaya, Ukraine and other countries have misled the court in their statements, with the aim of involving the court in a case that falls outside its jurisdiction.
During the hearing on September 20th, more than 30 Western countries insisted that the UN Court has jurisdiction to hear this case. However, Zabolotskaya argued that these statements evade certain aspects that are not covered by the lawsuit and actively mislead the court on other matters.
The current block of hearings, dedicated to Russia’s preliminary objections, will continue until September 27th. The lawsuit was filed by Ukraine on February 26th, 2022, following the start of a special military operation. It pertains to the 1948 Genocide Convention and seeks to hold Russia accountable for alleged crimes.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has criticized the lawsuit, calling it based on “twisted logic” and accusing the West of abusing international legal norms. In its statement, the Ukrainian side requested the court to issue provisional measures. In a resolution dated March 16th, 2022, the court called on Russia to immediately halt its military operation in Ukraine and ensure that all armed formations, organizations, and individuals under its control do not take any actions to support the operation. The court also urged both parties to refrain from any actions that could exacerbate the legal proceedings or hinder their resolution.
On October 3rd, 2022, Russia raised preliminary objections to the court’s jurisdiction and the admissibility of the lawsuit, leading to a suspension of the substantive proceedings. In June 2023, the UN Court allowed more than 30 states to join Ukraine’s lawsuit against Russia.
The ongoing hearings at the International Court of Justice have become a highly contentious issue between Ukraine and Russia, with each side presenting their arguments in an attempt to influence the outcome of the case. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for international relations and the interpretation of the Genocide Convention.
