Verdict due Wednesday on Ukraine case vs Russia: International Court of Justice
The Peace Palace is illuminated in blue in the Hague, The Netherlands, on occasion of World Human Rights Day, Dec. 10, 2018. The U.N.'s top court said it will give a judgment Wednesday on Ukraine's charge that Russia falsely justified its invasion by accusations of genocide. EPA-Yonhap
The U.N.'s top court said it will give a judgment Wednesday on Ukraine's charge that Russia falsely justified its invasion by accusations of genocide.
Kyiv filed the case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, Feb. 24, demanding that the tribunal order an end to the offensive.
It accuses Russia of illegally trying to justify its war under an international convention by falsely alleging that Ukraine committed genocide in regions held by pro-Russian separatists.
Russia declined to turn up to a hearing at the UN court March 7.
The court in The Hague said in a statement it would announce its judgment Wednesday at 3 p.m. (GMT).
The ICJ was set up after World War II to rule on disputes between UN member states, based mainly on treaties and conventions.
Although its rulings are binding, it has no real means to enforce them.
The case is separate from a Ukraine war crimes investigation launched by the International Criminal Court (ICC), a different tribunal also based in The Hague. (AFP)