UN court (ICJ) rejects Ukraine’s claims against Russia, Crimea airport attacked
In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea, a peninsula that was part of Ukraine. Ukraine filed a case against Russia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Russia of violating the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing.
Ukraine also accused Russia of being responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) in 2014.
Presiding judge Joan Donoghue (centre) reads the UN top court’s ruling in The Hague, Netherlands, on January 31, 2024, in a case in which Ukraine accuses Russia of bankrolling rebels in 2014 and discriminating against Crimea’s multiethnic community. © Peter Dejong, AP
On January 31, 2024, the ICJ issued its ruling on the case.
The ICJ found that Ukraine had not provided sufficient evidence to support its claims that Russia had violated the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing.
The ICJ also declined to rule on Ukraine’s claim that Russia was responsible for the downing of MH17.
Ukraine expressed disappointment with the ICJ’s ruling. Russia welcomed the ruling, calling it a “victory for truth and justice.”
On the same day as the ICJ’s ruling, the Crimean Peninsula was attacked by drones. The attack damaged several buildings, including the Belbek military airfield. No one was injured in the attack.
The ICJ’s ruling is a setback for Ukraine. The ruling could make it more difficult for Ukraine to hold Russia accountable for its actions in Crimea.
The attack on the Crimean Peninsula is a reminder of the ongoing tensions in the region.
The ICJ’s ruling is a significant development in the legal battle between Ukraine and Russia. The ruling could have implications for other cases involving terrorism and state responsibility.
The attack on the Crimean Peninsula is a reminder of the fragility of the security situation in the region.
Source (Reuters, Tass)
