Moscow Hopes ICJ to Reject Ukraine’s Claims in Lawsuit Against Russia Over Donbass, Crimea

Moscow expects the International Court of Justice to turn down claims made by Ukraine against Russia over the latter’s alleged violations of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The Russian Federation expects that at the stage of hearing the merits of the dispute, the International Court of Justice will fully take into account Russia’s stance and eventually turn down all of Ukraine’s claims," the ministry said.

Ukraine filed a lawsuit against Russia with the ICJ back in January 2017 on the basis of the two conventions. Ukraine seeks to apply the conventions to the Donbass conflict and Crimea’s reunification with Russia.

On Friday, the court in The Hague, having examined Russia’s objections to the lawsuit, ruled that it has the jurisdiction to hear the case.

Moscow has repeatedly denied claims of involvement in the Donbass crisis and said that the reunification with Crimea followed a referendum held in line with international law.