The case of sailors in The Hague: the Foreign Ministry said that Ukraine had thwarted the Kremlin's plans

Присяжнюк Владислава
·
13:56, 13 October
The case of sailors in The Hague: the Foreign Ministry said that Ukraine had thwarted the Kremlin's plans
Image source: ТСН

At the hearings in the Arbitration Court in The Hague in the case of Ukraine against the Russian Federation for violating the immunity of Ukrainian warships and their crews in November 2018, the Russian side began to argue its position, which wanted to mislead the court and the public. However, Ukraine thwarted the Kremlin's plans and countered.

This was announced by Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba during a briefing on October 13.

"On Monday (October 11 - ed.) The Russian side presented its arguments and tried to mislead the court and the public. It was an attempt to turn everything upside down in the classic Russian style. However, yesterday (October 12 - ed.) Took the floor of the Ukrainian delegation and we thwarted Russia's plan. Ukraine has put forward arguments that will prevent Russia from escaping responsibility", - the minister said.

According to him, unlike Russia, Ukraine's position is based on international law: "We have laid out Russian manipulations and inconsistencies on the shelves and substantiated our position. Ukraine is working to ensure that Russia's defiant and illegal seizure of Ukrainian Navy ships in November 2018 a clear assessment of international justice ".

Kuleba also added that Russia should be held accountable for all crimes against Ukraine and violations of international law, "no matter how long it takes".

"If today illegal actions do not receive a proper legal assessment, Russia will continue to destroy norms and rules. Therefore, this week in The Hague, Ukraine defends not only its national interests but also the integrity of international law in general. Truth and law are on our side. We are step by step. we prove Russia's crimes, demand that international courts adopt tough sanctions and restrictive measures against the Kremlin", - the minister concluded.

What is known

  • The International Court of Arbitration, established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, this week began a hearing in The Hague in Ukraine v. Russia on the detention in November 2018 of Ukrainian warships and sailors in the Kerch Strait.
  • On November 25, 2018, the Russian military rammed, fired on and captured Ukrainian boats Berdyansk and Nikopol and the tug Yani Kapu, which were heading from Odesa to Mariupol through the Kerch Strait.
  • On September 7, 2019, the sailors were exchanged and returned to Ukraine. On November 18, Moscow returned to Kyiv the Ukrainian ships seized near the Kerch Strait.