Violates UN Convention: Ukraine calls for Russia to demolish the Kerch Bridge at the Hague

Ukraine spoke at the hearings of the Arbitral Tribunal in the case concerning the rights of a coastal state in the Black and Azov Seas and in the Kerch Strait (Ukraine vs. Russia). The state called for an obligation to dismantle the Kerch Bridge.

As the Deputy Agent of Ukraine Oksana Zolotaryova emphasized in her closing remarks, this is the only way to restore passage for vessels of all countries. Her words were quoted on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

She noted that Russia claims that the reason for the construction of the Kerch Bridge was the so-called blockade, but the real reason was the Russian blockade of Ukrainian ports in 2022, which caused a global food crisis.

"The tribunal should oblige Russia to dismantle and remove the so-called Kerch Bridge. Dismantling the bridge is the only way to restore the passage for vessels of all countries that have used the strait in the past and for vessels that will use the strait in the future. Russia built this bridge illegally, and now it must remove it to ensure passage through the Kerch Strait in accordance with international law," Zolotaryova said.

The representative of Ukraine emphasized that Russia must do so in accordance with other UNCLOS obligations to protect the marine environment and underwater cultural heritage.

The Ukrainian side also emphasizes that it is not enough to tell Russia that it is violating international law. Instead, it is necessary to force Russia to provide guarantees that it will not repeat its violations in the future.

Hearings in the case will continue in The Hague until October 5, 2024 and are confidential to the public, except for the opening and closing statements of the parties' agents in the case.

As previously reported, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution "Legal and Human Rights Aspects of the Russian Federation's Aggression against Ukraine". It refers to the creation of a special tribunal against Russia.

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