The International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced on Thursday that Russia has submitted preliminary objections to a genocide lawsuit initiated by Ukraine against Moscow.
Parties may submit preliminary objections to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) if they think the court lacks jurisdiction in a matter. The ICJ is the highest court of the UN for disputes between states.
The document was not made public until the court tweeted on Thursday that it had been received on October 3.
Moscow argued that the ICJ, also known as the World Court, lacked jurisdiction in a letter to the UN court in March because the genocide treaty does not govern the use of force between nations.
The filing signifies a change in Moscow’s attitude to the ICJ case. Russia is now engaging with the court, whereas it has previously skipped hearings and not filed documents directly with the court.
Ukraine filed a case with the ICJ shortly after Russia’s invasion began on Feb. 24, saying that Moscow’s stated justification, that it was acting to prevent a genocide in eastern Ukraine, was unfounded.
During hearings in March, Ukraine said there was no threat of genocide in eastern Ukraine, and that the U.N.’s 1948 Genocide Convention, which both countries have signed, does not allow an invasion to prevent one. read more
After those hearings, which Russia had skipped, ICJ judges ordered Russia to stop the invasion of Ukraine as an emergency measure while it looked into the merits of Ukraine’s claim. read more
The next step in the case will be a hearing on the objections against the jurisdiction of the court. No date for such a hearting has been set yet, but it is expected to be several months away.