July-December 2015
ISSN 2050-005X (Online); 978-1514857861 (ISBN-13); 1514857863 (ISBN-10)
In November 2013 the Euromaidan protests swept Kiev and brought violence to the streets. President Yanukovyk had chosen closer economic ties to the Russian Federation over the European Union and in February he was ousted and an acting-President appointed by Ukrainian Parliament. The crisis escalated when unmarked forces seized the Crimean peninsula and penned Ukrainian forces into their bases. Furthermore, Eastern Ukraine saw increased pro-Russian protests against the Government and in the subsequent twelve months the rebel groups that seized control have attempted to create break away from Ukraine. The rebel groups have been supported by Russia by provisions of weapons, armour and logistics but the full extent of Russia’s involvement is unclear. This article locates the breaches of international law with regards to Russia’s actions in Ukraine and addresses the extent to which the sovereignty of Ukraine has been violated. The use of force and potential acts of aggression are examined and the right to self-determination of the Ukrainian people.
Keywords: International Law, Ukraine Crisis, Russia, Use of Force, Sovereignty, Self-Determination
2. ‘Nato accuses Russia of violating Ukraine sovereignty’ (BBC News, 29 August 2014) <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28984241> accessed 2 February 2015.
3. Ibid.
4. Alexander Lott, ‘The Tagliavini Report Revisited: Jus ad Bellum and the Legality of the Russian Intervention in Georgia’ [2012] Utrecht Journal of International and European Law, 28 (74) 2-21.
5. Christian Ignatzi, ‘Crimea: A breach of international law’ (Deutsche Welle, 8 March 2014) <http://dw.de/p/1BMEj> accessed 2 February 2015.
6. Kristin Hausler, Robert McCorquodale, ‘Ukraine Insta-Symposium: Crimea, Ukraine and Russia: Self-Determination, Intervention and International Law’ (Opinio Juris, 10 March 2014) <http://opiniojuris.org/2014/03/10/ukraine-insta-symposium-crimea-ukraine-russiaself-determination-intervention-international-law/> accessed 2 February 2015.
7. James Crawford, Brownlie’s Principles of International Law (8th edn, OUP, 2012) 245.
8. Ibid., 244.
9. Ibid., 245.
10. Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances (adopted 5 December 1994) UN Doc A/49/765.
11. Ibid., Art. 1.
12. Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation (adopted 31 May 1997).
13. Agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on the Status and Conditions of Presence of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation in the Territory of Ukraine (adopted 28 May 1997).
14. Anka Feldhusen, ‘Geography and the Boundaries of Confidence: The “Russian Factor” in Ukrainian Foreign Policy’ [1999] 23 Fletcher F. World Aff., 126.
15. Aurel Sari, ‘Ukraine Insta-Symposium: When does the Breach of a Status of Forces Agreement amount to an Act of Aggression? The Case of Ukraine and the Black Sea Fleet SOFA’ (Opinio Juris, 6 March 2014) <http://opiniojuris.org/2014/03/06/ukraine-instasymposium-breach-status-forces-agreement-amount-act-aggression-case-ukraine-black-seafleet-sofa/> accessed 2 February 2015.
16. Charter of the United Nations (adopted 24 October 1945) Art. 2(4).
17. UN General Assembly, ‘Definition of Aggression’ (14 December 1974) UN Doc A/RES/29/3314.
18. Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua (Nicaragua v. United States of America) [1986] ICJ Rep 14.
19. Ibid., [195].
20. Ibid., [111].
21. Ahmed Khayre, ‘Self-defence, intervention by invitation, or proxy war? The legality of the 2006 Ethiopian invasion of Somalia’ [2014] A.J.I.C.L. 22(2), 215.
22. David Kretzmer, ‘The inherent right to self-defence and proportionality in jus ad bellum’ [2013] E.J.I.L. 24(1), 243.
23. Sari (n 14).
24. Scott Appleton, ‘Fighting for a better future’ [2014] IBA Global Insight, Jun/Jul.
25. Khayre (n 20) 224.
26. Khayre (n 20) 211.
27. UN Charter (n 15) Art. 51.
28. Ibid.
29. United Nations Security Council, 2283rd Meeting (15 June 1981) UN Doc S/PV.2283 [148].
30. Ruma Mandal, ‘Russia, Ukraine and International Law’ (Chatham House, The Royal Institute of International Affairs, 7 March 2014) <https://www.chathamhouse.org/media/comment/view/198003#> accessed 2 February 2015.
31. Oil Platforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America) [2003] ICJ 4.
32. Daniel Wisehart, ‘The Crisis in Ukraine and the Prohibition of the Use of Force: A Legal Basis for Russia’s Intervention?’ (Blog of the European Journal of International Law, 4 March 2014) <www.ejiltalk.org/the-crisis-in-ukraine-and-the-prohibition-of-the-use-of-force-a-legalbasis-for-russias-intervention/> accessed 3 February 2015.
33. Wisehart (n 32).
34. Re Kariņš and others v Parliament of Latvia and Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia [2007] Case No. 2007-10-0102 (Latvian Constitutional Court) (OUP Ref. ILDC 884 (LV 2007)).
35. Wisehart (n 32).
36. Norwegian Helsinki Committee, ‘Ukraine, Russia crisis: breached of international law and human rights issues’ (NHC Policy Paper No.1 2014, 20 March 2014) <http://www.nhc.no/filestore/Publikasjoner/Policy_Paper/NHC_PolicyPaper_1_2014UkraineQA.pdf> accessed 2 February 2015, 4.
37. Robert McMahon, ‘Ukraine in Crisis’ (Council on Foreign Relations, 25 August 2014) <http://www.cfr.org/ukraine/ukraine-crisis/p32540> accessed 2 February 2015.
38. Antonia Molloy, ‘Ukraine crisis: Russia is deliberately ‘violating the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine’, says William Hague’ (The Independent, 14 April 2014) <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-crisis-russia-is-deliberately-violatingthe-independence-and-sovereignty-of-ukraine-says-william-hague-9259024.html> accessed 2 February 2015.
39. Crawford (n 6), 755.
40. Ibid., 756.
41. International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, ‘The Responsibility To Protect’ (Report of the ICISS, December 2001) <http://responsibilitytoprotect.org/ICISS%20Report.pdf> accessed 13 February 2015.
42. Crawford (n 6), 756.
43. Wisehart (n 32); Lott (n 3).
44. Wisehart (n 32); Ignatzi (n 4).
45. Crawford (n 6), 757.
46. Norwegian Helsinki Committee (n 36), 4.
47. Todd Benjamin, ‘Ukraine crisis’ [2015] IBA Global Insight, Dec/Jan, 39.
48. Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua (Nicaragua v. United States of America) [1986] ICJ Rep 14 [246].
49. United Nations Security Council, 7124th Meeting (1 March 2014) UN Doc S/PV.7124, 5.
50. Grigory Vaypan, ‘(Un)Invited Guests: The Validity of Russia’s Argument on Intervention by Invitation’ (Cambridge Journal of International and Comparative Law, 5 March 2014) <http://cjicl.org.uk/2014/03/05/uninvited-guests-validity-russias-argument-interventioninvitation/> accessed 3 February 2015.
51. Vypan (n 50).
52. Khayre (n 20), 228.
53. United Nations General Assembly ‘Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations’ (24 October 1970) UN Doc A/RES/25/2625, 2.
54. Ibid.
55. Khayre (n 20), 219.
56. United Nations Security Council, Draft Resolution (15 March 2014) UN Doc S/2014/189.
57. United Nations Security Council, 7138th Meeting (15 March 2014) UN Doc S/PV.7138, 5 per Sir Mark Lyall Grant.
58. ibid., 5.
59. UN Security Council (n 49), 2.
60. United Nations Security Council, 7287th Meeting (24 October 2014) UN Doc S/PV.7287, 12.
61. United Nations Security Council, 7219th Meeting (18 July 2014) UN Doc S/PV.7219., 6 per Ms. Power.
62. Council of the European Union, ‘Council conclusions on Ukraine’ (Press EN, Brussels, 15 August 2014) <http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2014_2019/documents/sede/dv/sede110914conclusionsukraine1508_/sede110914conclusionsukraine1508_en.pdf> accessed 11 February 2015, 1.
63. Ibid.
64. Laura Rees-Evans, ‘Secession and the use of force in international law’ [2008] C.S.L.R. 4(2), 249.
65. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (adopted 16 December 1966, entered into force 23 March 1976) 999 UNTS 171 (ICCPR).
66. ibid., 257; Re Secession of Quebec [1998] 2 S.C.R. 217.
67. Martin Dixon, International Law (7th edn, OUP, 2013), 173.
68. UN Human Rights Council, 43rd Meeting (26th March 2009) Resolution 10/20, 2.
69. Dixon (n 67), 173.
70. European Parliament, ‘Position of Ukraine on the Russian Federation MFA’s statement of 11 March on the Declaration of independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopil’ (2014) <http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/documents/d-ua/dv/dua_2014_0319_14_/dua_2014_0319_14_en.pdf> accessed 2 February 2015.
71. Benjamin (n 47), 37.
72. Vladislav Tolstykh, ‘Reunification of Crimea with Russia: A Russian Perspective’ [2014] C.J.I.L. 13(4), 881.
73. Ibid., 882.
74. European Parliament (n 70).
75. Ibid.
76. United Nations General Assembly ‘Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations’ (24 October 1970) UN Doc A/RES/25/2625.
77. Ibid., 7.
78. Accordance with International Law of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in Respect of Kosovo (Advisory Opinion) [2010] ICJ Rep 403.
79. Christopher Clement-Davies, ‘Russia and the rule of law – again! The duty to speak out’ [2014] I.E.L.R. 5, 155.
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LLB, University of Lincoln; LLM candidate, Public International Law & Human Rights, Utrecht University.
(2015). Ukrainian Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity – Has it Been Breached?. Legal issues Journal, 3 (2), https://www.legalissuesjournal.com/article/03-02-11072015/
