DISINFO: Kyiv curators pressure International Court of Justice against Russia in genocide claim
SUMMARY
Attempts by the West to put pressure on the International Court of Justice in the framework of the Russian-Ukrainian proceedings are incompatible with the independence of this judicial body. The peculiarity of the hearings on Ukraine lies in the avalanche-like intervention in the proceedings by the curators of the Kyiv regime.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that the ICJ is not an independent body, that Ukraine is a Western puppet state, made in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
The International Court of Justice is an independent body consisting of 15 judges elected by the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council, which includes Russia. Russia's statements about the “politicisation” of the international justice system are a reaction to the unprecedented support for Ukraine from dozens of states that took the side of Ukraine at the International Court of Justice.
Ukraine appealed to the International Court of Justice with a new claim a couple of days after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukraine claims that Russia invaded the country under the false pretext of “genocide of the people of Donbas,” thereby abusing and violating the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. This complaint was joined by 32 other countries that support Ukraine. The plaintiff states argue that Russia used a fictitious pretext to start the war. It is this fact of colossal support for Ukraine that Russia calls “Western pressure on the Court.” In reality, 32 countries are witnessing and calling out Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.
Preliminary hearings were held at the International Court of Justice from 18–27 September 2023, which should determine whether the Court has the right to consider the case on its merits. If the Court's decision is positive, the consideration of Ukraine's claim against Russia itself will begin within a few months.
Read similar disinformation cases about Ukraine’s alleged genocide against its own people in our database.
Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state with a democratically-elected president and parliament. Ukraine is not controlled by any foreign government or organisation.