International Court of Justice accepts Russia's counterclaim against Ukraine in Genocide Convention case
The International Court of Justice has ruled that Russia's counterclaim against Ukraine in the Genocide Convention case is admissible and has ordered both sides to submit their arguments.
Source: press release by the International Court of Justice, as reported by European Pravda
Details: In its order of 5 December, the International Court of Justice held that Russia's counterclaims "are admissible as such and form part of the current proceedings".
The Court rejected Ukraine's request to dismiss the counterclaim, concluding that it falls within its jurisdiction and "is directly connected with the subject-matter of the claim of the other party", namely Ukraine.
Ukraine must submit its response to the counterclaim by 7 December 2026, while Russia will have until 7 December 2027 to reply to Ukraine's arguments.
Read more: Why Ukraine failed in The Hague, and what it needs to change to win cases against Russia
Background:
- On 2 February 2024, the International Court of Justice issued an interim decision in Ukraine's case against Russia under the Genocide Convention. Ukraine accused Moscow of distorting the concept of genocide and abusing it to justify the full-scale invasion.
- The Court dismissed five of the six objections raised by Russia, but also refused to consider Ukrainian claims regarding the illegality of recognition of the so-called Luhansk People's Republic and Donetsk People's Republic (self-proclaimed and non-recognised formation in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts) and the outbreak of war on the basis of false accusations of genocide, as they, in the Court's opinion, do not apply to the Genocide Convention.
- Only Ukraine's claim that Russia has falsely accused Ukraine of a non-existent genocide, which may directly violate the Genocide Convention, will be considered.
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