ICJ accepts Russia's counterclaim against Ukraine in genocide case

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Russia’s counterclaim against Ukraine in the ongoing case concerning alleged violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide is admissible.

Ukraine now has until December 7, 2026, to submit its response to the court’s ruling, Caliber.Az reports via the ICJ rulling. 

The ICJ determined that Russia's claim of genocide, filed in the context of the ongoing proceedings under the Genocide Convention, is acceptable and forms part of the broader case. The court noted that Russia is likely using the same body of evidence to both rebut Ukraine’s allegations and support its own claims of genocide.

At the same time, the court rejected Ukraine’s motion to dismiss Russia's genocide claim, allowing the case to proceed. Russia has until December 7, 2027, to submit its arguments in response to both Ukraine’s allegations and its own counterclaim.

The legal dispute began on February 26, 2022, when Ukraine initiated proceedings at the ICJ against Russia, accusing the country of violating the Genocide Convention by claiming there were acts of genocide in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

Ukraine asserts that Russia's accusations were unfounded and served as a pretext to recognise the self-declared "Luhansk People's Republic" and "Donetsk People's Republic," leading to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Since the case began, 33 countries have joined Ukraine’s position as plaintiffs. However, the ICJ did not accept the United States' intervention due to reservations regarding one of the convention’s articles.

The proceedings are ongoing, and both parties are bound by strict timelines set by the ICJ to ensure a transparent resolution under the Genocide Convention.

By Sabina Mammadli