The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will rule on emergency measures sought by Ukraine in a dispute against Russia on Wednesday, including an order for Moscow to cease its military operations.
At 4 p.m. local time, the top United Nations court, popularly known as the “World Court,” will read out its verdict at The Hague’s Peace Palace (1500 GMT).
Although the court’s decisions are legally enforceable, it has no direct methods of implementing them, and governments have in the past ignored them.
Ukraine submitted its petition on Feb. 24, shortly after Russia began its invasion, claiming that Russia’s apparent justification that it was attempting to prevent genocide in Eastern Ukraine, was false.
Ukraine stated at the hearings that there is no threat of genocide in Eastern Ukraine and that the United Nations’ 1948 Genocide Convention, which both nations have signed, does not permit an invasion to prevent genocide.
The invasion has been portrayed by Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “special military action” necessary “to safeguard people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide” in eastern Ukraine, meaning individuals whose first or only tongue is Russian.
Russia stated it would miss World Court proceedings on March 7 “in view of the lawsuit’s clear ridiculousness.”
Moscow, on the other hand, filed a written declaration with the court stating that the ICJ should not impose any sanctions.
Russia maintained that Putin’s use of the term “genocide” does not imply that his actions are guided by the Genocide Convention. Russia maintained that the court has no jurisdiction until there is a dispute about the treaty’s meaning.
Even before deciding whether it has jurisdiction in a case, the court might impose extraordinary steps in an emergency situation. It normally takes months for this to happen, while rulings on the merits of a case can take years.
