Russia, Ukraine Clash In ICJ Over Claims Of Preventing Genocide

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to become the arena for a contentious legal battle between Russia and Ukraine on Monday.

This case, initiated by Ukraine just days after Russia's invasion in February of the previous year, revolves around Moscow's assertion that its invasion of Ukraine was undertaken to prevent genocide.

In response, Kyiv contends that Russia's justification for the invasion, based on preventing an alleged genocide in eastern Ukraine, constitutes an abuse of international law.

Meanwhile, Russian officials continue to accuse Ukraine of committing genocide, deepening the complexity of this international dispute.

Russia is strongly pushing for the dismissal of the case and vehemently objects to the jurisdiction of the ICJ in this matter.

The forthcoming hearings, scheduled to extend until September 27, will primarily focus on the legal aspects of jurisdiction rather than delving into the substantive merits of the case.

Moscow asserts that Ukraine is using this case as a tactical maneuver to obtain a verdict on the overall legality of its military actions.

Notably, Ukraine secured an initial victory when the ICJ ruled in its favor in a preliminary decision in March of the previous year, compelling Russia to halt its military actions in Ukraine immediately.