ICJ adopted provisional measures in Ukraine v. Russia case

THE HAGUE, 16 March 2022. The International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, has today delivered its Order on the Request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by Ukraine in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation).

In its Order, which has binding effect, the Court indicates the following provisional measures:

  • The Russian Federation shall immediately suspend the military operations that it commenced on 24 February 2022 in the territory of Ukraine;
  • The Russian Federation shall ensure that any military or irregular armed units which may bdirected 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;
  • Both Parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It was established by the United Nations Charter in June 1945 and began its activities in April 1946. The Court is composed of 15 judges elected for a nine-year term by the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). The Court has a twofold role: first, to settle, in accordance with international law, through judgments which have binding force and are without appeal for the parties concerned, legal
disputes submitted to it by States; and, second, to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by duly authorized United Nations organs and agencies of the system.