Hearings on Ukraine’s lawsuit against the Russian Federation for violation of the UN Maritime Convention began in The Hague

In The Hague, in the hall of the Permanent Chamber of the Arbitration Court, hearings began on Ukraine’s lawsuit against the Russian Federation regarding violation of the right of the coastal state in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Ukrainian side filed this lawsuit on September 14, 2016 in connection with the violation of its rights in the Black and Azov Seas, as well as in the Kerch Strait.

According to the correspondent of “Ukrinform” in The Hague, the essence of the case, issues of jurisdiction and admissibility will be considered during the hearings.

Ukraine is represented in this process by Anton Korynevych, Ambassador on Special Assignment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. As reported by the Russian state news agency TASS, the Russian delegation is headed by Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Gennady Kuzmin.

The hearings will take place from September 23 to October 5, 2024 in a closed format. Only the opening and closing statements of the parties will be public. Later, open information should be published on the court’s website.

On September 14, 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reported a lawsuit to the arbitration court for violations of maritime law by Russia. The agency’s statement said that Ukraine is asking the court to confirm its rights as a coastal state and to oblige Russia to “stop internationally illegal acts in the relevant sea areas” in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In December 2018, based on Ukraine’s claim against Russia under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, a tribunal was formed to consider the Ukraine v. Russia case.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was signed in 1982 and entered into force in 1994. It establishes the division of maritime space between states and regulates norms on internal waters, the open sea, the exclusive economic zone, and the continental shelf. The convention was ratified by 159 countries, including Ukraine and Russia.

International organizations recognized the occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea as illegal and condemned Russia’s actions. Western countries introduced economic sanctions. Russia denies the occupation of the peninsula and calls its actions “the restoration of historical justice.” The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine officially announced February 20, 2014 as the start date of Russia’s temporary occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol.