Ukraine has begun legal proceedings against Russia for alleged violations of the United Nations convention on terrorism, according to the Ukrainian government.
“National security is protected not only with weapons, but also in the courts,“ said Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk Tuesday.
“We have begun a lawsuit against the Russian Federation in the International Court of Justice concerning the violation by Russia of the [UN] Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism. Russia is financing terrorism, and it must answer for this,” said Yatsenyuk.
The value of the damages being sought by Ukraine was not stated.
“Ukraine has filed a number of lawsuits to the Russian Federation to compensate for losses caused by the Russian military aggression against Ukraine,” continued the prime minister.
Read more: Ukraine Suing Russia for 1 Trillion for Crimea
The lawsuit is the third filed by Ukraine against Russia since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine early this year.
”The two lawsuits that are currently before the Court on the Russian Federation will continue to be considered and effectively prosecuted by Ukraine,” Yatsenyuk said.
Read more: Russia is Suing Ukraine for $1 Billion for War Damages
Two preexisting claims were filed with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) already this year. One regards the Russian invasion and illegal annexation of Crimea that began in late February and Russia’s military action in Eastern Ukraine since that time. Another claim regards an alleged abduction by Russia of three groups of Ukrainian orphans and other children and some adults.
The ECHR invited Russia to answer these claims last month.
According to the UN, which conducted an investigation into human rights violations in Eastern Ukraine earlier this year, Russian and pro-Russian forces as well as Ukrainian government forces were guilty of a wide range of abuses against human rights.
Yatsenyuk also spoke of two suits that had been filed with Stockholm for arbitration on alleged crimes committed by Russian gas giant Gazprom.
“Much of it has been completed,” said Yatsenyuk. “The lawsuit against Russia’s Gazprom on gas price revision and the action for a review of the transit agreement will soon be complete… There are two options as usual–deal without trial or [the Stockholm Arbitration Court will] make a final decision on Gazprom.”
By James Haleavy