In a significant ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found Russia in violation of a UN anti-terrorism treaty for failing to investigate credible allegations of funding pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.
Notably, the court refrained from adjudicating Kyiv’s claims that Russia bore responsibility for the MH17 plane crash in 2014. The ICJ also determined that Russia breached an anti-discrimination treaty by not supporting Ukrainian language education in Crimea post-annexation.
The court’s decision represents a legal setback for Ukraine, as it had sought reparations for both violations. However, the ICJ solely mandated Russia to adhere to the respective treaties. Anton Korynevych, Ukraine’s representative, emphasized the judgment’s importance in officially designating Russia as an international law violator.
This ruling marks the first instance of Russia being formally recognized as such. While Ukraine asserted that Russia supplied the missile system causing the MH17 tragedy, the court maintained its focus on financial support violations, not weapons or training supply.
In a seven-year legal battle, Ukraine accused Russia of arming and funding pro-Russian forces, including those involved in the MH17 incident. Despite the ICJ’s judgments being final, it lacks enforcement mechanisms. The upcoming ICJ ruling on Ukraine’s accusation of Moscow falsely applying the 1948 Genocide Convention in justifying its 2022 invasion is awaited