On November 8, the UN International Court of Justice ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear Ukraine's claim against Russia in compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination as well as the other complaint of official Kyiv accusing Russia of financing terrorism. The UN Court is going to consider this claim in accordance with the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

“Ukraine’s case against the Russian Federation now can move forward! It’s been proved that the issues involving the financing of terrorism in Ukraine and racial discrimination in the Crimea are within the jurisdiction of the UN International Court. It is a true victory of Ukraine, and a victory of the rule of law and human rights”, stressed Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko, while commenting on the November 8th ruling.

So far, the resolution of the UN Court is not final. But the important thing is that the case of Ukraine against Russia is the competence of the International Court. It is this very thing that Russians have tried to question. Apparently, they were convinced of their victory, especially after Georgia had lost the similar case ten years ago because it made a number of serious mistakes.

As for the resolutions of the Court on the Ukraine’s case, they can be expected no earlier than 2022. At least, Ukraine will be able to demand a compensation from Russia. However, the compensation is not the main thing that the Ukrainian side is trying to achieve. Ukraine sees the ruling of the UN Court as a very serious chance to show the international community that a country that violates international law deserves punishment. What kind of punishment it is for the Court to decide. But the fact that the law breaches will not be forgotten will become an evident manifestivation of the victory of the force of law and not the law of force.

So far, there’s been no response from Russia to the ruling of the UN International Court. However, it’s unlikely that the Kremlin will comply with it. Ukrainian analyst Taras Semenyuk believes that the Court’s ruling strengthens the positions of Ukraine in the international arena particularly at negotiations concerning the issues involving the Crimea and Donbas. He says that there’s no guarantee that Russia will accept and implement this ruling because everthing will depend on the result of a geopolitical bargaining which is taking place right now.

The newspaper Holos Ukrainy