THE HAGUE — Ukraine on Wednesday urged judges on the UN’s highest courtroom to dismiss Russia’s objections and listen to in full Kyiv’s declare that Moscow abused worldwide regulation by saying the 2022 invasion was carried out to cease an alleged genocide.
“The court should promptly dismiss Russia’s preliminary objections and schedule a hearing on the merits,” Harold Koh, a lawyer for Ukraine, stated.
Last week Russia urged the ICJ, also referred to as the World Court, to throw out the case, claiming Kyiv’s authorized arguments have been flawed.
Ukraine introduced the case earlier than the ICJ days after the Russian invasion on Feb. 24 final yr.
Kyiv argues Russia is abusing worldwide regulation by saying the invasion was justified to cease an alleged genocide in jap Ukraine.
Ukraine says there was no danger of genocide in jap Ukraine, the place it had been preventing Russian-backed forces since 2014.
Koh stated the courtroom ought to dismiss Russia’s declare the courtroom has no jurisdiction as a result of the central challenge shouldn’t be genocide however use of pressure, which the ICJ has no jurisdiction over.
Instead the courtroom ought to concentrate on what Koh referred to as the true challenge earlier than it: “May a powerful state falsely accuse its neighbor of genocide [and] then use illegal force to kill its citizens, devastate their homeland and destabilize the global legal order all on the pretext of preventing and punishing genocide?”
Russia has to this point ignored a preliminary ruling by the ICJ in March final yr which ordered Moscow to cease its army actions and the courtroom has no means of imposing its choices. Experts say a full ruling in favor of Ukraine can pave the best way for compensation funds. — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
