Ukraine declared Russia a terrorist state at the highest U.N. court on Tuesday as proceedings began in a case involving Moscow’s support of pro-Russian separatists accused of downing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014.
Since Moscow invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, lawyers representing Ukraine and Russia convened for the first time at the International Court of Justice (World Court). Each side sent dozens of lawyers.
The ICJ’s 16 judges began hearing Ukraine’s claim that Moscow violated a U.N. anti-terrorism convention by equipping and funding pro-Russian troops that shot down the airliner, killing all 298 passengers and crew.
Ukraine has also requested that the Hague court force Russia to stop discriminating against Crimea’s Tatar ethnic population.
In his opening remarks, Ukrainian Ambassador-at-Large Anton Korynevych noted the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam hours earlier in Russian-held territory in southern Kherson. Kyiv claims Russia blew up the dam; the Kremlin claims Ukrainian sabotage.
“Russia cannot defeat us on the battlefield, so it targets civilian infrastructure to try to freeze us into submission,” Korynevych told lawmakers, calling Russia’s activities “the actions of a terrorist state.”
“Just today Russia blew up a major dam…, causing significant civilian evacuations, ecological damage, and threatening the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.”
Russia can address Ukraine’s case on Thursday. Moscow claims the ICC has no jurisdiction and wants the case dismissed.
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