RFE
12 Sep 2019, 11:45 GMT+10
A one-day public hearing was held on September 11 in Ukraine's case against Russia for its alleged human rights abuses in Crimea.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg is being asked to rule, among other issues, whether Russia effectively controlled the Ukrainian territory before the State Duma on March 20, 2014 ratified a treaty that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed as part of the annexation process.
Kyiv insists Moscow controlled the peninsula since February 27, 2014 and that Russian forces tortured and killed police as well as civilians, allegations that Moscow denies.
Other atrocities of which Kyiv accuses Russia include harassment and intimidation of priests and journalists, which the Kremlin also denies.
Speaking first at the hearing, Russian Deputy Justice Minister Mikhail Galperin said at the time of Crimea's takeover, Ukraine lacked a constitutionally legitimate government and the country was run by "fascists" who don't tolerate "minority languages," he said referring to Russian.
Galperin acknowledged there were Russian soldiers in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula at the time Moscow took it over, but in numbers that were prescribed by the 1997 Black Sea fleet agreement.
Any evidence Kyiv presented on human rights abuses is unreliable and taken from "third-party sources" and not from on-the-ground monitoring, he said.
Galperin warned the court of opening a Pandora's box of politically motivated cases, which could lead to the ECHR being flooded with many more in the future.
"Ukraine's written submissions are defective in many ways because they're political" and are based "more on propaganda than direct evidence," Galperin said.
Ukraine dismissed Galperin's arguments that it didn't commit atrocities in Crimea by pointing to independent findings from the United Nations that corroborate Kyiv's allegations.
Ben Emmerson, a British lawyer on Ukraine's legal team, said Russia didn't allow investigators into Crimea, which is why more witness testimony wasn't available. He cited a report by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding human rights violations, including the torture of Ukrainian officers using electric shocks and knives.
"There is serious and credible evidence that requires serious investigation and [it] more than meets the admissibility threshold," Emmerson said.
Ukraine has filed four more cases with the ECHR against Russia. For simplification, the court has separated cases relating to Crimea and Donbas in eastern Ukraine where a Russian-backed separatist conflict is being waged.
An ECHR ruling wasn't expected on September 11 and won't be delivered until the court finishes deliberating.
With reporting by The Babel, Ukrainska Pravda, and Bloomberg
Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Republished with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036
Get a daily dose of Germany Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Germany Sun.
More InformationPARIS, France: L'Oréal is making a fresh play in the booming premium haircare segment with a new acquisition. The French beauty conglomerate...
SAN FRANCISCO, California: Under pressure from European regulators, Apple has revamped its App Store policies in the EU, introducing...
China, EU hold 13th round of high-level strategic dialogue At the 13th round of China-EU High-level Strategic Dialogue Wednesday,...
Just one week after the launch of the Antispekula.bg platform and its mobile app, citizens across Bulgaria have begun actively submitting...
The European Commission president has been damaged by the ongoing Pfizergate Covid-19 vaccine scandal Members of the European Parliament...
Denmark has taken over the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union as questions swirl over Europe's security...
DUBLIN, Ireland: The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has warned that there could be a serious trolley crisis this summer...
ISTANBUL/PARIS/BRUSSELS: As searing temperatures blanket much of Europe, wildfires are erupting and evacuation orders are being issued...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: The U.S. dollar continues to lose ground, weighed down by growing concerns over Washington's fiscal outlook...
DUBLIN, Ireland: The High Court has lifted an anonymity order, allowing Trinity College Dublin and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland...
PARIS, France: France is taking stronger steps to reduce smoking. A new health rule announced on Saturday will soon ban smoking in...
VILNIUS, Lithuania – A growing body of research suggests that selectively restricting a single nutrient in our diet could have profound...