On Friday, Ukraine called on the Permanent Court of Arbitration, based in The Hague, which is investigating Russia's violation of the UN Maritime Convention, to oblige the Russian Federation to demolish the illegally built Kerch (Crimea) bridge.
This was stated by Ukrinform as a representative of Ukraine Oksana ZolotargovaThis was stated by the Head of the Legal Department of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in his closing speech at the oral hearing of the Hague Proceedings on coastal state rights in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.
Russia built this bridge illegally, and must now remove it to ensure water movement across the Kerch Strait in accordance with international law. Russia must do so under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in order to fulfill its obligation to protect the marine environment and underwater cultural heritage contained in the document.
The official argued that dismantling the bridge was the only way to restore ship traffic from all countries that used or wanted to use the strait in the future. “We ask the court to uphold the provisions of the Law of the Sea Convention with Russia,” he said.
According to Zolotaryova, Russia should also be obligated to ensure that violations are not repeated in the future.
Russia should be required to bear the consequences of its illegal actions by returning illegally seized Ukrainian oil platforms flying the Ukrainian flag to Ukraine. Ordering Russia to conduct studies on the effects of Russian construction in the Kerch Strait on the marine environment
The Ukrainian legal representative confirmed. According to his words, Russia should also be obliged to take the necessary measures to eliminate the environmental damage it has caused.
In September 2016, Ukraine initiated arbitration proceedings against Russia to protect its rights as a coastal state in the Black Sea, Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, Ukrainian news portal Pravda reported. In February 2020, the Arbitration Court in The Hague confirmed its jurisdiction to consider Ukraine's claim, but only in relation to the issue of seizure of the Sea of Azov, part of the Kerch Strait and the natural resources there.
The case commenced on September 23, 2024 in The Hague. As part of the case, Ukraine drew attention to the illegal presence of the Crimean Bridge and asked the court to hold Russia responsible based on the provisions of UNCLOS.
(MTI)
