Russia shall suspend hostilities in Ukraine – International Court of Justice.

Russia must suspend hostilities on the territory of Ukraine, President of the International Court of Justice Joan Donoghue has said.

"In its Order, which has binding effect, the Court indicates the following provisional measures. By thirteen votes to two, the Russian Federation shall immediately suspend the military operations that it commenced on 24 February 2022 in the territory of Ukraine," Donoghue said, reading out the decision of the International Court of Justice in the case Ukraine v. Russia concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Also by 13 votes to two, the court ruled that the Russian Federation shall ensure that any military or irregular armed units which may be directed or supported by it, as well as any organizations and persons which may be subject to its control or direction, take no steps in furtherance of the military operations.

Unanimously, both Parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.

Donoghue said that, at this stage of the proceedings, the Court has no evidence supporting the Russia's allegation that genocide was committed on the territory of Ukraine.

"Moreover, it is doubtful that the convention, in the light of its object and purpose, allows the contracting parties to use force unilaterally on the territory of another state in order to prevent or punish an alleged genocide," the President of the International Court of Justice emphasized.

According to her, given these circumstances, the Court considers that Ukraine has a real right not to be subjected to military actions of the Russian Federation in order to prevent and punish the alleged genocide on the territory of Ukraine.

Donoghue drew attention to the fact that the interim measures taken by the court are not identical to those requested by Ukraine.

The President of the International Court of Justice has stated that judgments and provisional measures under Article 41 of the UN Statute are binding and thus create international legal obligations for any party to which provisional measures are addressed.

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