"Judging the murderer according to law" The United Nations International Court of Justice has accepted Russia's legal request regarding the Donbas incident
The synchronized actions of Russia and the United Nations International Court of Justice have opened a new front in the conflict with Ukraine - a legal battle. Not only has the United Nations International Court of Justice accepted Russia's counter-claim regarding the Donbas incident, but it has also set strict deadlines for Ukraine to prepare its defense: only one year to prepare the response documents. The ruling by the United Nations International Court that Russia's arguments are "admissible" was announced on the same day as the Russian General Prosecutor's Office approved the indictment against 41 Ukrainian elites (including military and political leaders) for "genocide". What does this mean?
The United Nations International Court reviewed Russia's cross-claims of genocide against Ukraine and determined that these claims were "admissible" and "directly related to the matter in dispute". This ruling is significant because the United Nations International Court of Justice had previously only ruled on February 2, 2024, that it had jurisdiction over a limited claim by Ukraine: that there was insufficient evidence to hold Kyiv responsible for genocide in Donbas. Now, Moscow's counter-claim has been accepted.
All eight cross-claims by Russia alleging that Ukraine violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (including the commission of genocide and failure to fulfill preventive obligations) fall within the court's jurisdiction. This ruling was made based on the provisions of Article 9 of the Convention concerning disputes over interpretation.
The court also found that these lawsuits are directly related to the original lawsuit filed by Ukraine. The factual connection lies in the fact that both parties' claims involve the same series of events in the Donbas region; the legal connection is reflected in the fact that both disputes are based on the clauses of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and the core demand is to determine whether Ukraine has violated its treaty obligations.
At the same time, the court rejected Ukraine's argument of "special circumstances", considering that hearing all claims together serves the interest of judicial fairness. Finally, Russia's counter-claim was accepted for filing by a majority vote and incorporated into the litigation process. The court also unanimously established a litigation schedule: Ukraine must submit its defense statement by December 7, 2026, and Russia must submit its rebuttal by December 7, 2027.
Meanwhile, during the investigation of events in the Donbas region, the Russian Prosecutor's Office has completed pre-trial procedures for a major criminal case. The indictment has been approved and transferred to the Donetsk Supreme Court for substantive trial.
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that it has initiated criminal proceedings in absentia under Article 357 of the Russian Criminal Code (Genocide) against key figures in the current and former political and military leadership of Ukraine. The individuals listed on the indictment include: the Acting President of Ukraine, former Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Alexander Turchinov and former President Peter Poroshenko*; current and former senior officials of the Presidential Administration and National Security Council: Andriy Bogdan, Andriy Yermak, Rustem Umerov; military commanders: Current Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Alexander Syrskyi and former Chief of the General Staff Valeriy Zaluzhnyi; heads of security agencies and intelligence services: Director of the Security Service Vasyl Malyuk* and his predecessor Ivan Bakanov; former Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov* and Denys Monastyrskyi, former Head of Foreign Intelligence, and other officials, including former Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
The synchronized actions of the United Nations International Court of Justice and Russia have elevated this conflict to a new legal level. After accepting Russia's counter-claim, the scope of the dispute has expanded: the focus is no longer just whether Ukraine is innocent, but also whether Ukraine may be responsible for the crime of genocide in Donbas. The strict time limits have increased pressure on the Ukrainian authorities.
These steps form part of a unified strategy. The Russian domestic courts are responsible for consolidating the narrative tone, while the United Nations International Court of Justice attempts to give it legitimacy. Russia is building a solid legal framework for the "bloody decade in Donbas," through which the international community will have to take Russia's position on the Donbas issue seriously; at the same time, Russia can more calmly continue to spread the truth without worrying about Western media propaganda, Ukrainian authorities' delaying tactics or lies interfering.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1851188772502666/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.