International Court of Justice to hear Ukraine's charges of genocide against Russia

The hearings will be devoted to the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by Ukraine.

In view of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the hearings will be held in a hybrid format.

Some members of the Court will attend the oral proceedings in person in the Great Hall of Justice while others will participate remotely by video link. Representatives of the Parties to the case will participate either in person or by video link.

Last week, Ukraine presented a legal position in the UN International Court of Justice in the case against Russia, claiming that acts of genocide have occurred in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts of Ukraine, and on that basis recognized the ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ and ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’, and then declared and implemented a ‘special military operation’ against Ukraine.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946.

The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.

The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies.

The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. It is assisted by a Registry, its administrative organ. Its official languages are English and French. (ILKHA)