By Stephanie van den Berg

THE HAGUE, Reuters – The International Court of Justice (ICJ), Wednesday issued an order to Russia to immediately cease all military activities in Ukraine. This was in a preliminary ruling in a Kyiv case.

Judges at the United Nations highest court declared in a 13-2 verdict that “The Russian Federation will immediately suspend military operations it began on February 24, 2022, on the territory Ukraine”.

They also stated that Russia had to ensure that the military operation is not continued by any other force it controls or supports.

The court’s decisions are binding but it doesn’t have any direct way of enforcement and, in some cases, countries ignore them.

Ukraine had filed its case soon after Russia’s February 24 invasion. It claimed that Russia’s apparent justification of acting to stop a massacre in Eastern Ukraine was unfounded.

At hearings, Ukraine stated there is no risk of genocide within Eastern Ukraine. The 1948 Genocide Convention by the United Nations, signed by both countries, doesn’t allow for an invasion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described invading eastern Ukraine as a special military operation necessary “to protect people subject to bullying or genocide”, meaning Russian-speaking citizens.

Russia stated that it cancelled World Court hearings March 7th “in light the apparent absurdity in the lawsuit”.

Moscow, however, did submit a written statement to the court stating that the ICJ shouldn’t impose any measure.

Russia claimed that Putin’s use if the word “genocide”, however, does not mean it bases its actions on Genocide Convention. Russia claimed that the court does not have jurisdiction to decide disputes over the interpretation of the treaty.

Joan Donoghue who was the presidency judge, said that enough information had been provided by the court to show that two nations disagree on how the Genocide Convention should be interpreted in order for the court to take a preliminary decision. It would be later that the actual jurisdiction was decided.

The court could order emergency actions in an immediate situation like the one in Ukraine. It can do this even before the judge decides whether the case is within its jurisdiction. This can take many months while the decision on the merits of an individual case may take years.