Russia snubs UN court hearing in case brought by Ukraine

Ukraine seeks emergency order from ICJ to halt hostility on its territory, arguing Russia falsely utilized genocide regulation to justify its invasion.

Ukrainian envoy Anton Korynevych urged Russia to 'lay down your arms and put ahead your proof' [File: Eva Plevier/Reuters]

Russia has boycotted hearings on the UN’s highest court docket throughout which Ukraine is searching for an emergency order to halt hostilities, arguing that Moscow has falsely utilized genocide regulation in justifying its invasion.

Hearings started on the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Monday with out authorized illustration for Russia.

“The truth that Russia’s seats are empty speaks loudly. They don't seem to be right here on this court docket of regulation: They're on a battlefield waging an aggressive warfare towards my nation,” Ukrainian envoy Anton Korynevych mentioned.

He urged Russia to “lay down your arms and put ahead your proof.”

The court docket mentioned it regretted Russia’s non-attendance. A listening to, initially set for Tuesday, for Russia to current its case was anticipated to be cancelled. In earlier instances earlier than the ICJ the place a celebration didn't present as much as current its aspect, the court docket dominated with out enter from such events.

Nations have often, however not at all times, adopted the court docket’s orders, that are legally binding. A spokesperson for the Russian embassy within the Netherlands didn't reply to a request for remark.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has mentioned Russia’s “particular navy motion” is crucial “to guard individuals who have been subjected to bullying and genocide” – which means these whose first or solely language is Russian – in jap Ukraine.

Ukraine mentioned on Monday that Russia’s declare was baseless and the alleged genocide in jap Ukraine was “non-existent”.

The case centres on the interpretation of a 1948 treaty on the prevention of genocide, signed by each nations. The treaty names the ICJ because the discussion board for resolving disputes between signatories.

Ukraine mentioned on Monday that Moscow was violating and abusing the genocide conference through the use of it as a justification for warfare.

“Russia should be stopped and the court docket has a task to play in stopping it,” Korynevych informed the judges as he requested for them to impose emergency measures.

“Ukraine involves this court docket due to a grotesque lie and to hunt safety from the devastating penalties of that lie,” David Zionts, a lawyer for Ukraine, informed the court docket.

“The lie is the Russian Federation’s declare of genocide in Ukraine. The results are unprovoked aggression, cities beneath siege, civilians beneath fireplace, humanitarian disaster and refugees fleeing for his or her lives.”

Al Jazeera’s Charlie Angela, reporting from London, mentioned Russia’s absence on Monday might be as a result of one among their attorneys, Alain Pellet of France, resigned earlier within the week.

“In an open letter, he mentioned, ‘Sufficient is sufficient. It’s turn out to be unattainable for me to signify a rustic that so cynically despises the regulation,'” Angela mentioned, citing the letter. “That has been a blow to their aspect.”

The ICJ is the very best court docket for resolving disputes between states, and whereas instances there often take years, it has a fast-track process to take a look at requests for “provisional measures” similar to these Ukraine has requested.

The court docket can order provisional measures to forestall a state of affairs from worsening earlier than it seems at extra elementary questions similar to whether or not it has jurisdiction or the deserves of a case.

It's not clear when a verdict can be reached. Though verdicts given by the ICJ are binding, the court docket has no means of implementing a call.

If the court docket had been to order a halt to hostilities, “I feel the possibility of that taking place is zero,” mentioned Terry Gill, a professor of navy regulation on the College of Amsterdam. He famous that if a nation doesn't abide by the court docket’s order, judges might search motion from the United Nations Safety Council, the place Russia holds a veto.