You're reading: Ukraine to demand ICJ recognize Russia as financer of terrorism

Ukraine is planning to file a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) demanding Russia be recognized as a country that finances terrorism, Ukrainian Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko has said.

“Ukraine is planning to initiate a debate on the case regarding the violation by the Russian Federation of a number of conventions and, first and foremost, the convention on the prohibition of the financing of terrorism,” he told reporters in Kyiv on Dec.18.

He noted that Ukraine had a lot of evidence to offer in this case.

According to Petrenko, a pre-trial procedure has already been launched.

“The so-called pre-trial procedure is now underway, when Ukraine appealed to Russia regarding the holding of consultations… Russia should either recognize or deny [Ukraine’s claims],” he said.

Petrenko predicted that Ukraine would submit the lawsuit by the end of 2015.