Suomi ilmoittautui väliintulijaksi Kansainväliseen tuomioistuimeen asiassa, jossa Ukraina syyttää Venäjää joukkotuhonnasta

Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation)

The Republic of Finland files a declaration of intervention in the proceedings under Article 63 of the Statute

THE HAGUE, 22 September 2022. Yesterday, the Republic of Finland, invoking Article 63 of the Statute of the Court, filed in the Registry of the Court a declaration of intervention in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation).

Pursuant to Article 63 of the Statute, whenever the construction of a convention to which States other than those concerned in the case are parties is in question, each of these States has the right to intervene in the proceedings. In this case, the construction given by the judgment of the Court will be equally binding upon them.

To avail itself of the right of intervention conferred by Article 63 of the Statute, Finland relies on its status as a party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of  Genocide (the “Genocide Convention”). In its declaration of intervention, Finland “recalls that the rights and obligations contained in the Genocide Convention are of an erga omnes partes character”, and that the prohibition of genocide is “a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)”. It adds that, “[a]s a State Party, Finland therefore has a direct interest in the proper interpretation, application and fulfilment of the obligations contained in the Genocide Convention”. In accordance with Article 83 of the Rules of Court, Ukraine and the Russian Federation have been invited to furnish written observations on Finland’s declaration of intervention.

Finland’s declaration of intervention will be available on the Court’s website shortly

Press release