Tell the world this is Genocide. Ukraine appeals to the International Court of Justice

It’s Genocide! – that is what Ukraine wants what is happening to its country to be called. Ukraine v. Russian Federation came before the International Court of Justice of the United Nations on March 7th and asked for an expedited decision.

Genocide is defined, in non-legal terms, as “”the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group”.

President Putin will most likely be charged with war crimes, separate from this case, though that is unlikely to stop his aggression in the area.

The appeal for Genocide designation came before the third hospital, a maternity hospital was bombed, during a designated ceasefire for evacuations, with at least 3 dying, including one child, and many patients and medical staff injured.

From the International Court of Justice:

The public hearing on the Request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by Ukraine in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation) was concluded today. Oral arguments were presented by Ukraine. The Russian Federation did not participate in the hearing. In a letter sent on Saturday 5 March 2022, the Russian Federation informed the Court that it “ha[d] decided not to participate in the oral proceedings..”

During the hearing, the seat of the Court, the delegation of Ukraine was led by Anton Korynevych, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, as Agent.

At the end of the hearing, Co-Agent of Ukraine Oksana Zolotaryova presented the following submissions to the Court on behalf of Ukraine. She said, “In these extraordinary circumstances, Ukraine request the Court’s Order the following provisional measures:

a. The Russian Federation shall immediately suspend the military operations commenced on 24 February 2022 that have as their stated purpose and objective the prevention and punishment of a claimed genocide in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts of Ukraine.

b. The Russian Federation shall immediately ensure that any military or irregular armed units which may be directed or supported by it, as well as any organizations and persons which may be subject to its control, direction or influence, take no steps in furtherance of the military operations which have as their stated purpose and objective preventing or punishing Ukraine for committing genocide.

c. The Russian Federation shall refrain from any action and shall provide assurances that no action is taken that may aggravate or extend the dispute that is the subject of this Application, or render this dispute more difficult to resolve.

d. The Russian Federation shall provide a report to the Court on measures taken to implement the Court’s Order on Provisional Measures one week after such order and then on a regular basis to be fixed by the Court.”

The Co-Agent also said, “Ukraine is being supported by the civilized world. We are grateful to each and every act and effort to support Ukraine. But we need more help. We need more help from our allies. We need more help from every institution in the world. That includes this Court. On behalf of the Government of Ukraine, and on behalf of the people of Ukraine, I thank you for your attention in this matter of national life or death. I respectfully urge the Court to issue your order with utmost urgency. We are in your hands. Thank you.”

The Court’s decision on the Request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by Ukraine will be delivered at a public sitting, the date of which will be announced in due course. —–

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the UN, holds public hearings on the request for the indication of provisional measures presented by Ukraine in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation) on 7 and 8 March 2022 at the Peace in The Hague, the seat of the Court. Session held under the presidency of Judge Joan E. Donoghue, President of the Court. La Cour internationale de Justice (CIJ), organe judiciaire principal de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, tient, les 7 et 8 mars 2022, des audiences publiques sur la demande en indication de mesures conservatoires présentée par l’Ukraine en l’affaire relative à des Allégations de génocide au titre de la convention pour la prévention et la répression du crime de génocide (Ukraine c. Fédération de Russie) au Palais de la Paix, à La Haye, où la Cour a son siège. Séance tenue sous la présidence de Mme la juge Joan E. Donoghue, présidente de la Cour.

Ukraine vs Russian Federation – Allegations of Genocide | International Court of Justice –

March 7, 2022

The Genocide Convention was conceived largely in response to World War II, which saw atrocities such as the Holocaust that lacked an adequate description or legal definition. The Convention defines genocide as an ‘intentional effort to completely or partially destroy a group based on its nationality, ethnicity, race, or religion. The convention was passed to outlaw actions similar to the Armenian genocide and the Holocaust.

The development at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) came on day 12 of the crisis in Ukraine, where more than 1.5 million refugees have sought shelter across the country’s borders and where cities have been surrounded by Russian forces and civilians are subject to indiscriminate shelling.