Ukraine has accused Russia of committing a war crime, after which the matter has reached the International Court of Justice. However, Russia has denied allegations of targeting civilians. The investigation has begun in the war crimes case against Russia. An investigation has started against Russia under the Geneva Convention.
The Geneva Convention is an international treaty. It sets international legal standards for humane behavior in any war. The first three conventions set out provisions for the protection of soldiers and prisoners of war fighting in war, while the fourth convention, which came out after World War II, protects civilians in war zones. In 1949, the Geneva Convention was ratified by all member states of the United Nations, including Russia.
The first three conventions of the Geneva Conventions set out provisions for the protection of soldiers and prisoners of war fighting in war. The Fourth Convention came into existence after the Second World War. Under this, the common citizens of the war zone are protected. The Geneva Convention of 1949 was ratified by all the member states of the United Nations including Russia.
The Fourth Convention sets out the definition of war crimes. It includes intentional killing during war. This includes torture or inhuman treatment. This includes willfully causing grievous bodily injury or harm to health. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court over the Ukraine war has said that evidence of alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide is being collected. The court has taken this step after 39 countries raised the demand for investigation.
Rome Act: The Rome Act of 1998 is also an important international treaty in the field of armed conflict. According to this treaty, war is a crime. Considered a useful guide to understanding international law and its violations. Under this, intentional direct attacks on common people or intentional attacks on people who are not involved in war, have been kept in the category of crime.
Under this treaty, any form of attack or bombing on villages, houses or buildings without protective cover comes in the category of crime. According to this, hospitals, buildings related to religious faith or education cannot be deliberately targeted. The treaty also prohibits the use of certain weapons as well as poisonous gases.
How is the hearing: The International Criminal Court was established in 1998 in The Hague, Netherlands. It is an independent organization. The ICC can only exercise jurisdiction where a country is not prepared to or cannot prosecute for a crime. But this court does not have its own police force and is dependent on the cooperation of the country concerned for the arrest of the accused. There are 123 member countries of the ICC. Russia and Ukraine are not its members.
However, Ukraine accepts the jurisdiction of the court, which allows the ICC to investigate certain alleged crimes in Ukraine. The US, China and India are also not included in the ICC members.
What are the charges against Russia?
Ukraine’s president has accused Russia of being involved in war crimes. Russia is also accused of using banned cluster bombs in Kharkiv. The use of this bomb has been banned in the year 2008. However, neither Russia nor Ukraine has banned its use due to not joining the agreement.
Russia has also been accused of using vacuum bombs in the attack on Ukraine’s north-eastern city of Oktarka. It is a thermobaric weapon, which can cause massive destruction by igniting a cloud of vaporized fuel. There is no international law specifically banning the use of these bombs, but if a country does use it can be convicted of a war crime under the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907.