Based on the government’s decision on Croatia’s intervention in the International Court of Justice case concerning the Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation), Croatia filed on 19 October 2022 a declaration of intervention in said case.
On 26 February 2022, Ukraine instituted proceedings against the Russian Federation in a dispute concerning the interpretation, application or fulfilment of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide (the “Genocide Convention”). Ukraine claims that the Russian Federation’s declaration and implementation of measures in or against Ukraine in the form of a “special military operation” declared on 24 February 2022 on the basis of alleged genocide, as well as the recognition by the Russian Federation of so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” and “Luhansk People’s Republic” that preceded the military operation, is incompatible with the Convention. Following Ukraine’s request for provisional measures, the Court ordered on 16 March 2022 that the Russian Federation should immediately suspend the military operation that it had commenced on 24 February 2022 in the territory of Ukraine.
As a party to the Convention, Croatia has the right to intervene in the proceedings and intends to put forth its own interpretation of the relevant provisions. In its declaration, Croatia focuses on Article IX of the Convention, stating that the Court has jurisdiction in said case.
To date, declarations of intervention have also been filed by Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Germany, United States, Sweden, Romania, France, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Estonia, Spain, Australia, Portugal, Austria, Luxembourg, and Greece.
Croatia reiterates its full commitment to international order based on rules and respect for the international law, notably the obligation of countries not to resort to threats or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another country, and to respect human rights and the international humanitarian law as well as the Genocide Convention.
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