ICJ to consider issue of Russian reparations to Ukraine

Oksana Zolotariova, Ukraine's co-agent, said this in an exclusive comment to an Ukrinform correspondent in The Hague, at an ICJ hearing on Wednesday, March 16.

“The court recognized its preliminary jurisdiction. We now turn to the merits, and the court will now determine whether it has full jurisdiction to hear the case. Then we turn to the question of what responsibility should be borne by Russia. First of all, it is a matter of establishing the facts of its violation of international law, which is a key priority of Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. The court will then proceed to consider reparations. We are talking about compensation for the damage, both moral and material, which was inflicted on the people of Ukraine," said the co-agent.

She noted that international law provides for all mechanisms for recovery of funds in case of non-compliance with one of the parties' court rulings.

"But this issue will be considered at a later stage. Now the court will set out the course of proceedings in the coming days, perhaps within a week, and then we will see how we will move forward," said Zolotariova.

She also reminded that on the third day of the invasion, Ukraine filed a lawsuit vs Russia with the UN International Court of Justice demanding that the aggressor be brought justice for distorting the concept of genocide.

"The case concerns the fact that Russia has unjustifiably accused Ukraine of committing genocide against residents of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including those that had long remained under Russian occupation. Based on this false, baseless statement, Russia has committed a large-scale armed aggression against Ukraine. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has made it very clear what will threaten Russia if this order is not fulfilled. And that this means its continued total isolation. Ukraine achieved a historic victory today. This is not only a historic victory of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Ukraine against Russia, it is first of all a victory for international law and international legal order, as the UN International Court of Justice ordered Russia to immediately suspend its so-called military operation. This is a victory for every Ukrainian who is currently suffering. This is the victory for every warrior who is defending our land. And this victory is also in honor of those Ukrainians who died over these 21 days," she said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Ukraine has gained full victory in the case vs the Russian Federation in the UN International Court of Justice. The court ordered that Russia immediately cease the invasion of Ukraine.

The UN International Court of Justice has ruled that Russia must cease fire and withdraw troops; ordered that Russia take the following preliminary measures: immediately suspend military operations launched on February 24, 2022, on the territory of Ukraine.

The Court recognized its jurisdiction in the case of interpreting the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Russia was refused to have the case closed so the case will be considered on the merits.

The court has no evidence to support Russia's allegations of genocide committed by Ukraine.

On the third day of the invasion, Ukraine filed a lawsuit against Russia with the UN International Court of Justice demanding that the aggressor be held accountable for distorting the concept of genocide. After all, Russia is actually trying to alter the reality to justify its attack. So, in fact, the court has to decide whether genocide was committed in Ukraine. The fact is that Russia, as always, is trying to distort things, claiming that Ukraine is allegedly guilty of genocide in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and that Russia was therefore forced to use military force.

The war with Russian invaders has been going on in Ukraine since February 24.