Ukraine on Monday filed a lawsuit against Russia before the United Nations’ highest court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, who announced the development on Twitter called for immediate action against Russia and invoked the convention against genocide.
Zelensky claimed that Russia falsely claimed that genocide was being committed in the republics of Luhansk and Donetsk to justify an invasion.
ICJ is now expected to declare an emergency proceeding that Russia does not have the legal right to invade Ukraine with its military.
A date for the proceeding had not been fixed to hear the suit filed by Ukraine.
Ukraine in the suit accused Russia of “planning acts of genocide in Ukraine” and “intentionally killing or seriously injuring people of Ukrainian nationality.
“The court is expected to order immediate measures to prevent the violation of the rights of Ukraine and its citizens.”
Court proceedings before the International Court of Justice take time.
However, in this urgent situation, the case might be scheduled within a few weeks.
