Geopolitics
Russia Accused of Aggression against Ukraine at UN
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Ukraine has brought action against Russia at the UN’s International Court of Justice in the Hague. The aforesaid motions concern the annexation of Crimea, provision of support for the pro-Russian separatists who remain active in the Eastern Ukraine, and discrimination.
As stressed by the Ukrainian MFA, Russia is responsible for the “acts of terrors and discrimination, resulting from the illegal aggression”. Shelling of the civil targets and shooting down the Malaysian airliner both are listed as acts of terror, within the action brought in. The Kiev authorities want Russia to pay damages for the aforesaid incidents.
The accusations of discrimination are related to the political revenge taken against the Crimean Tartars (the national self-government – Majlis – has been banned), or to making it impossible to cultivate customs and promote the culture.
Poroshenko claimed that the Russians, since three years, have been brutally breaching the international law, having taken over the Crimean Peninsula three years ago, and having been illegally occupying the Eastern part of Ukraine in the Donetsk and Luhansk areas. The Ukrainian official also noted the implementation of a policy of destruction and discrimination in Crimea.
As a response to the accusation, the Russians stated that they would use any legal measures against the charges filed in. As the experts stress, bringing in the action itself will not have any specific consequences. Such ramifications may emerge only if the Court’s ruling would take side of the Ukrainians. Then, national courts may use the aforesaid judgement as a reference point. The Russians claim that they have analysed the motion thoroughly, but they cannot establish a relevant dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities. They also stressed that Ukrainians are not interested in participation in the aforesaid dialogue.
Moscow rejects the accusations, even though the support for the “separatists”, as well as shelling, conducted by Moscow, have both been confirmed by the authorities of the United States of America, European Union, NATO and NATO member states or by the Bellingcat investigative journalists. The aforesaid investigators have been able to track down the Buk-M1 air defence system which was used to shoot down the Malaysian MH-17 airliner, they are also regularly publishing the relevant data concerning the Russian shelling.
Poroshenko’s Administration has also recalled the fact that another case against Russia is being investigated at the International Criminal Tribunal and at the European Court of Human Rights. Meanwhile, Ukrainian companies, such as Ukrnafta and Stabil, have asked the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague to provide them with a compensation related to the investments lost, following the Russian annexation of Crimea which took place in March 2014.