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Disinfo: The Hague court recognised Crimea as Russian

Summary

In the Netherlands, they proved that Crimea is Russian. The Permanent Court of Arbitration denied Ukraine’s attempt to denounce Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea. The court in The Hague supported Russia in all key positions.

Disproof

Part of the recurring pro-Kremlin narrative that Crimea is Russian territory.

Ukraine filed a lawsuit against Russia on 16 September 2016, concerning the Kremlin's violations of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in the Kerch Strait and the Sea of ​​Azov. The Kremlin appealed that the Permanent Court of Arbitration does not have jurisdiction to consider this case, but the court rejected Russia's objections on 21 February 2020 and determined it would hear Ukraine's claims. Ukraine insists in its lawsuit that since 2014, Russia has hindered Ukraine from using natural resources from its own marine areas: including fish resources and huge oil and gas reserves. Also, that Russia impedes free navigation through the Kerch Strait.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration did reject one of Ukraine's claims, concerning the rights of the country as a coastal state in waters near the Crimea. Nevertheless, the court did not in any way confirm the “Russian status of Crimea”. The Permanent Court of Arbitration is not authorised to consider the issue of the occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula, but it was able to rule on territorial waters, stressing that "the tribunal cannot question the sovereignty of Ukraine over the Crimea."

The International Criminal Court in The Hague will consider the case of the occupation of Crimea and a formal investigation into the annexation of the peninsula this year, according to the prosecutor's office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Ukraine has filed seven appeals with the International Criminal Court, which are considered by Dutch prosecutors.

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publication/media

tsargrad.tv (Archived)
gazeta.ru (Archived)
news-front.info (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue187
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 22/02/2020
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: Russia, Ukraine, The Netherlands
  • Keywords: International Criminal Court, Azov sea, War crimes, Black Sea, Crimea

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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Disproof

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Disproof

The report is ridiculing opposition march in memory of the murdered opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, presenting its participants as people who don't really know what they were there for and what signs they carried.

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