Key Takeaways:
– The Netherlands hosts discussions regarding Ukraine’s claims against Russia over the violation of maritime rights.
– Ukraine was first to present its case, represented by Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Anton Korynevych.
– Journalists had access to public opening and closing statements, while the rest is live-streamed in the press center.
– The hearings will last from September 23 to October 5, 2024.
In a significant development originating from the heart of The Hague, Netherlands, the long-debated claims of Ukraine against the Russian Federation are finally being heard. These allegations center around the perceived violation of coastal state rights as stated under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, igniting a flare of international attention. The setting chosen for these discussions, the Peace Palace, reverberates with the weighty significance of the issue at hand.
Starting Arguments, Setting Stages
Kicking off at 10:00 local time, the hearings have been designed to address a multitude of layers, tackling the merits, jurisdictional, and remaining admissibility issues associated with the claims. Given the first opportunity to speak in court, Ukraine was led by Anton Korynevych, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, the Russian Federation was not far behind. Ensuring its presence in the courtroom, the country was set to follow Ukraine, with representative Gennady Kuzmin expected to take the floor second. These initial speeches play a pivotal role in setting the tone for the hearings and hinting at the directions the arguments might take.
Transparency in Proceedings
In a move aimed at demonstrating transparency, the organizers have allowed journalists to capture photos and videos, permitting them access to the opening and closing remarks. Consequently, these media professionals were able to record the opening statements before being moved to the press center. At this location, journalists were given access to a live broadcast of the portions open to the public.
Judicial Timeline and Background
These hearings, as Ukrinform reported earlier, are set for a lengthy process, running from September 23 to October 5, 2024. The location for these extensive discussions is none other than the grand hall of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, nestled within the historic Peace Palace in The Hague.
This legal battle traces its origins back to September 14, 2016, when Ukraine took the significant step of initiating a separate proceeding against Russia. The key contention here was the alleged violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, with Ukraine seeking to assert and confirm its maritime rights over the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and the Kerch Strait.
The UN’s internal machinery sprung into action in May 2017 with the first meeting of the tribunal under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Following this, an arbitration was established explicitly for consideration of the dispute laid out by Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Conclusive Evidence and Russia’s Response
To strengthen its claim, Ukraine put forth a package of evidentiary documents on February 19, 2018. This package, referred to as a memorandum, was designed to demonstrate Russia’s contraventions against Ukraine’s sovereignty within the territorial waters of the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and the Kerch Strait.
In response, Russia presented its objections to the jurisdiction to the International Tribunal, thus sparking off an extensive judicial review process preceding the opening of these hearings.