Disinfo: The Hague court recognised Crimea as Russian

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.