Lithuania intervening in Ukraine vs Russia case at International Court of Justice

VILNIUS – Lithuania will on Friday formally intervene in Ukraine's case against Russia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. 

Forty-three countries in Europe and beyond, as well as the European Union, which condemn Russia's military aggression and its international crimes, have expressed their intention to intervene in the proceedings at the ICJ, according to the Lithuanian Ministry of Justice. 

Kyiv argues in the case that Russia cannot justify its military action on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations of genocide by the Ukrainian authorities in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, the ministry said.  

The ICJ on March 16 ordered Russia to immediately suspend military operations by armed units, directly or indirectly controlled by it, in Ukraine, the ministry noted, adding that failure to comply with the ruling is a violation of international law. 

Russia's war crimes and crimes against humanity are also under investigation by the International Criminal Court.

Among other things, Lithuania has suggested that the international community consider setting up a special tribunal on Russia's aggression against Ukraine.