Poland joins Ukraine v. Russia genocide case in ICJ
That’s according to the court’s press release, seen by Ukrinform.
"Poland filed in the Registry of the Court an application for permission to intervene under Article 62 of the Statute of the Court and a declaration of intervention under Article 63 of the Statute of the Court in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation)," the document says.
It is noted that the right to intervene in a case considered by the International Court of Justice is provided by Article 62. If a state believes it has an interest of a legal nature which may be affected by the decision in the case, it may submit a request to the Court to be permitted to intervene.
In its statement, Poland states that "as a party to the Genocide Convention, the Republic of Poland has a legal interest . . . in the Convention’s proper application by other States. Mindful of its own obligation to prevent violation of the Genocide Convention, the Republic of Poland is aware that it cannot transfer arms or provide other assistance to a State committing genocide. Therefore, an accusation of genocide addressed towards Ukraine simultaneously affects the Republic of Poland’s legal position as a state providing a wide range of support to Ukraine, including its Eastern regions, since 2014.”
Therefore, pursuant to Article 63 of the Statute, Poland seeks to intervene as it is interested in the proper interpretation and application of the Convention on Genocide.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, the International Court of Justice recognized its jurisdiction in the case of Ukraine v. the Russian Federation regarding genocide allegations.
In particular, the ICJ recognizes that it has jurisdiction to consider Ukraine's request, that it has not violated its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and that the request is admissible.
On March 16, 2022, the International Court of Justice handed down a decision on the request for the introduction of interim measures in the case, obliging Russia to immediately suspend all hostilities in Ukraine and stop any military or irregular armed formations under its control or influence.
On February 26, 2022, Ukraine submitted to the ICJ secretariat in The Hague an application to initiate a case against Russia regarding the dispute on the interpretation, application and implementation of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
