A decade-long arbitration case between Russia and Ukraine at the…
A decade-long arbitration case between Russia and Ukraine at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague concluded with a unanimous ruling in favor of Russia, affirming its sovereignty over the Kerch Strait, the Sea of Azov, and surrounding waters, and rejecting all Ukrainian claims regarding maritime rights, resource control, and the legality of the Crimean Bridge.
Consensus
- The arbitration case between Russia and Ukraine was concluded at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.
- The case involved maritime rights in the Black Sea, Azov Sea, and Kerch Strait.
- Five independent arbitrators from Algeria, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Russia, and the Republic of Korea issued a unanimous decision.
- The court rejected all claims made by Ukraine regarding violations of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
- The court recognized the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov as internal waters of Russia.
- The court rejected Ukraine's demand to recognize the construction of the Crimean Bridge as a violation of international law.
- The court found that Russia's actions, including border checks in the Kerch Strait and the transfer of floating drilling platforms under Russian jurisdiction, did not violate the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
- The court acknowledged that environmental impact assessments for the Crimean Bridge, energy bridge, and gas pipeline were conducted in a rushed manner and not properly published, but concluded that no environmental harm was caused.
Points of divergence
- The court rejected Ukraine's request to recognize the declaration of Russian sovereignty over the entire Sea of Azov following the accession of Donbass, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions to Russia as a violation of international law. — vesti
- The court rejected Ukraine's demand for the dismantling of the Crimean Bridge and dismissed claims that the bridge obstructs navigation. — m24
- Russia emphasized that nothing in the ruling prevents it from exercising sovereignty and jurisdiction in these maritime areas. — vesti
- The court found that the environmental impact assessments were incomplete and improperly published, but concluded no environmental damage occurred. — m24
- Russia stated that UN Secretary-General António Guterres failed to provide research supporting the right of Crimean and Donbass residents to self-determination. — vesti
Coverage (2 sources)
- Kyiv's Efforts to Challenge Crimea's Status End in Defeat — Вести
- Russian Foreign Ministry stated the failure of Kyiv's attempts to challenge Crimea's status in the court in The Hague — Москва 24
Key entities
- Russia
- Crimea
- MID
- The Hague
- Moscow
- Great Britain
- Kyiv
- Ukraine
- Azov Sea
- Algiers
- Kerch Strait
- Mexico
- Black Sea
- Chernovo
- Yevgeniya Smolyanskaya