Russia, Ukraine face International Court of Justice tomorrow for genocide case

Russia and Ukraine will face the International Court of Justice Monday in the case Moscow claims its invasion of Ukraine has been made to prevent a genocide.

Ukraine brought this case to the highest court in the United Nations several days after the Russian invasion began on February 24 of last year. Kiev argues Russia is violating international law, saying the invasion is justified with the alleged genocide in eastern Ukraine.

Russian officials continue to accuse Ukraine of committing genocide.

Russia wants the case rejected and opposes the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. The hearing, which will last until September 27th, will focus on the foundations of the case rather than on legal arguments related to the court's jurisdiction.

Moscow has said Ukraine is using this case to win a judicial decision regarding the legality of Russia's military action. Ukraine has already won a victory since last March's court was in its favour during the preliminary decision. Given that decision, the court ordered Russia to halt military action in Ukraine immediately.

At the hearing session, there will be evidence from 32 other states and all will support Ukraine's argument that the court has jurisdiction to proceed with the case.

While Russia has ignored the court's order to halt military actions, and this court has no way of implementing its decisions, experts have said that an eventual decision in favour of Ukraine would be important in future claims of compensation.

The United Nations genocide convention in 1948 defines genocide as the crimes committed “aimed at destroying, all or part, one nation, one ethnicity, one race or a religious group”. / REL