You're reading: Yatsenyuk says Ukraine to file case against Russia with Hague tribunal over aggression, Crimea annexation

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has said that the findings of Kyiv Institute of Forensic Examinations indicate that the statements of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Crimea contain clear signs of the violation of international law.

“At the government’s request, the Justice Ministry turned to Kyiv Institute of Forensic Examinations. I have been informed that yesterday the Forensic Examinations Institute made conclusions regarding the statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu concerning the annexation of Crimea. According to the institute’s findings, such statements contain clear signs of violation of international law – in particular the issue of direct orders regarding the annexation of Crimea and carrying out the military intervention against Ukraine,” the prime minister said while opening a meeting of the cabinet in Kyiv on March 18.

The prime minister said he issued some instructions to the Foreign Ministry and Prosecutor General’s Office in this respect.

“We have drawn up a relevant draft application in line with Article 11 of the Rome Statute, and such an application must be sent to The Hague tribunal [the International Criminal Court] and prosecution agencies, and it is the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office that must immediately start proceedings at the Hague tribunal to hold Russia liable for aggression against Ukraine,” Yatsenyuk said.