The International Court of Justice demands that Russia “immediately” stop the war in Ukraine

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) today demanded that Russia, by a vote of thirteen to two, “immediately suspend military operations” in Ukraine.

“The Russian Federation must ensure that any military unit or irregular armed group it supports (…) avoids taking steps that encourage military operations” in Ukraine, the ICJ president said, Joan Donoghueat the public reading of the court order.

Also, the judges have unanimously decided to call on Moscow and kyiv to “refrain from any action that could aggravate or extend the dispute before the court.”

In order to take the armed conflict to the UN high court, kyiv argued that Russia has misunderstood the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocidea 1948 treaty signed by both countries, because Moscow has justified the invasion of Ukraine based on an alleged genocide of the Russian-speaking population in Donetsk and Lugansk.

The orders issued today by the judges are precautionary measures that, in theory, should be applied until the merits of the case are judged. That is, until the ICJ looks into whether Moscow has misinterpreted the genocide convention, a judicial process that would take years.

However, it remains to be seen whether Russia will obey the court’s order, for, although their decisions are bindingthe ICJ does not have a police force to enforce its sentences, but rather depends on the will of the states involved.

When a country ignores ICJ orders, the affected state can turn to the United Nations Security Council to “make recommendations or decide what measures should be taken to give effect to the ruling,” according to the UN charter.

However, Russia could use its right to veto as a permanent member and block any initiative that is presented in the UN Security Council.