The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations' top court, is set to deliver a final ruling on Wednesday regarding Ukraine's allegations against Russia. The case, filed in 2017, asserts that Russia provided financial support to separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine and has engaged in discriminatory practices against Crimea's multiethnic community since its annexation of the peninsula. This ruling is the first of two expected decisions from the ICJ concerning the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
Ukraine's lawsuit accuses Russia of breaching international conventions against discrimination and the financing of terrorism. The country seeks reparations from Moscow for various attacks and crimes committed in eastern Ukraine, including the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. The plane was shot down on July 17, 2014, resulting in the tragic deaths of all 298 passengers and crew members. While Russia denies any involvement in the incident, a Dutch domestic court found two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian guilty in absentia and sentenced them to life imprisonment. Both the Netherlands and Ukraine have also filed a lawsuit against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights over the MH17 tragedy.
