Ukraine to confront Russia at International Court of Justice on Monday

Ukraine and Russia will face off Monday at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in a hearing on emergency measures sought by Kyiv to order Moscow to suspend military operations, with Russia’s legal team weakened by the resignation of a key lawyer.

The case lodged by Ukraine at the UN court centres on the interpretation of a 1948 treaty on the prevention of genocide, signed by both Russia and Ukraine.

The court is named in the treaty itself as the forum for resolving disputes related to it, and Ukraine’s suit argues that Russia has misinterpreted the treaty in several ways.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested in televised addresses that Russia’s attacks on Ukraine - which he calls a “special military action” - was justified by the need “to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide... for the last eight years” in Eastern Ukraine.

Kyiv’s suit argues there is no evidence that genocide has taken place or will take place in Eastern Ukraine. It asked the court to establish that “Russia has no lawful basis to take action in and against Ukraine for the purpose of preventing and punishing any purported genocide”.

The Russian Embassy in The Hague could not be reached on Friday for comment on how it will respond.

Russia’s legal team will be weakened by the absence of Allain Pellet of France, who announced his resignation in an open letter published this week.

“Enough is enough,” wrote Pellet, who was representing Russia in other international cases, including Ukraine’s ongoing suit against Russia at the ICJ over the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

“It has become impossible to represent in forums dedicated to the application of the law a country that so cynically despises it.”

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