More and More Countries Joining Ukraine’s Lawsuit against Russia over Genocide

Ireland and Finland are joining Ukraine’s lawsuit against the Russian Federation on genocide charges filed at the UN International Court of Justice. In total, at least 15 countries have already joined the lawsuit, including Estonia, France, Sweden, the USA, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, and Latvia.

This is stated in the press releases of the ICJ.

It is noted that the countries avail themselves of the right of intervention conferred by Article 63 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice and intervene in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation).

Third parties not participating in the conflict have a direct interest in the proper interpretation, application, and fulfillment of the obligations contained in the Genocide Convention.

As a reminder, on 16 March, the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague obliged the Russian Federation to stop the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022, the stated purpose of which was to “prevent and punish” the alleged genocide in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine.

On 1 July, Ukraine submitted a memorandum to the International Court of Justice over Russia’s violation of the Genocide Convention. Kyiv stated that was an important step to hold the Russian Federation accountable and make it compensate Ukraine for the damage caused.

Bohdan Marusyak