Ukraine has filed a lawsuit against Russia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), demanding immediate action against Russia and invoking the Genocide Convention.
Ukraine claimed that Russia “falsely claimed” that genocide was taking place in the breakaway republics of Luhansk and Donetsk in order to justify an invasion.
According to the indictment document, Russia “vehemently” denies the allegations.
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The court is now expected to declare an emergency proceeding on the grounds that “Russia has no legal basis” for its military action in and against Ukraine.
A hearing date has not yet been set.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the lawsuit earlier on Twitter.
Ukraine also accuses Russia in the indictment of “planning acts of genocide in Ukraine” and “intentionally killing or seriously injuring people of Ukrainian nationality.”
“The court is expected to order immediate measures to prevent violations of Ukraine’s and its citizens’ rights.”
Typically, court proceedings before the International Court of Justice are lengthy.
However, if the application is urgent, a hearing can be scheduled within a few weeks.
A case against Russia was already pending before the International Court of Justice.
Ukraine accused Russia of occupying the Crimean Peninsula, as well as funding and arming pro-Russian separatists in its eastern region of Donbass.
The International Court of Justice’s function is to settle disputes between states peacefully, and its decisions are binding.
However, the court has no power to compel a losing state to implement its decision, though it can file an appeal with the UN Security Council if its decision is ignored.
