32 countries speak in favor of Ukraine on third day of Hague hearings on Russian war crimes
Ukraine-led public hearings in the case of Russia violating the Convention on Prohibition of Genocide are ongoing in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague.
On the third day of hearings, 32 states testify in court. They have joined this case in order to support Ukraine. This is an unprecedented number of countries which participate in the proceedings.
These are 26 EU member states with the exception of Hungary, as well as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Lichtenstein, and the UK.
First, Germany took the stand in court, Australia was the second, then the representative of a group of countries – Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Lichtenstein, and the joint position of Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Romania and Sweden spoke as well.
Then, Bulgaria made a speech, followed by that of Canada and the Netherlands. After that, a pause was announced.
In their speeches, the states presented their vision of the case and cited the articles of the Convention directly related to Ukraine's claim.
Some members also emphasized that they joined the case as parties to the Convention.
The hearings in the case against Russia on charges of violating the Convention on the Prohibition of Genocide began at the Peace Palace in The Hague on September 18.
In a lawsuit against Russia in the International Court of Justice, Ukraine demands that the aggressor be held accountable for distorting the concept of genocide.
Ukraine filed this lawsuit on February 26, 2022, two days after the start of the full-scale war. Russia has used and manipulated the provisions of the Genocide Convention, accusing Ukraine of the alleged genocide that Ukraine allegedly committed in Donetsk and Luhansk regions in 2014.
Russia used this as a pretext to send in troops and launch a full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. The parties will present their positions, including the states that took the initiative to join the case.
On June 5, 2023, the International Court of Justice ruled that the interventions of 32 states were admissible.
