Zolotareva in the International Court: The truth is on our side

After her speech at the International Court of Justice, Director of the International Law Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oksana Zolotaryova emphasized that not only facts and law are on Ukraine's side, but also the truth.

She said this in an exclusive comment to an Ukrinform correspondent in The Hague.

"Judges live in the modern world, and we hope that they see everything. The truth is on the side of Ukraine, not only facts and law but the truth. And due to the fact that we do not hide anything from the court, we are completely open, we provide a lot of information, I think this is one of our strengths not only in jurisprudence but in the state in general," Zolotareva said.

It is worth noting that today, June 12, 2023, Ukraine had the floor in the Court on a symbolic day.

On June 12, 2018, Ukraine filed its Memorandum with the International Court of Justice, which documents serious violations of international law by the Russian Federation.

The Memorandum, together with numerous pieces of evidence, proves that the Russian Federation has violated the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (the "Terrorist Financing Convention") and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

"We have lost track of the days since we started preparing in earnest for these hearings. Thank you for reminding us that it was on this day that the memorandum was submitted," Zolotaryova added in a comment to an Ukrinform correspondent in The Hague.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the International Court of Justice is holding public hearings in June on the case of Russia's violation of the conventions on the suppression of the financing of terrorism and the prohibition of all forms of racial discrimination.

There are two rounds of speeches by the parties: On June 6 and 12, Ukraine's legal team will speak, and on June 8 and 14, Russia will speak.

On November 8, 2019, the International Court of Justice recognized its jurisdiction in the case of Russia's violation of two conventions.

On January 16, 2017, Ukraine filed a lawsuit against Russia in the International Court of Justice for violation of the Convention on the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and the Convention on the Prohibition of Racial Discrimination. The charges against Russia include: providing weapons and other types of assistance to illegal armed groups; shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17; shelling residential areas of Mariupol and Kramatorsk; and destroying a civilian passenger bus near Volnovakha; an explosion during a peaceful assembly in Kharkiv; discrimination against the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar communities; a ban on the activities of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people; waves of disappearances, murders, unauthorized searches, detentions; restrictions on the teaching of Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 13/06/2023