Russophobic Tribunal: Russia withdrew from the process of detaining 3 warships of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Russia today withdrew from the arbitration process under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the detention of three Ukrainian warships in the Black Sea in November 2018. This is reported by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

It is noted that the reason for the withdrawal was gross procedural violations during the proceedings and the illegitimate composition of the arbitration tribunal.

The Foreign Ministry recalled that the proceedings were initiated by Ukraine in 2019. Kiev accused Russia of allegedly violating the immunity of warships, illegal criminal prosecution of sailors detained on them and causing material damage. Russia participated in it in good faith, believing that the arbitration tribunal would be impartial.

"However, with the development of the process, it became obvious that it is impossible to talk about an unbiased establishment of facts and a fair decision ... The case will be considered on its merits by a body formed illegitimately and without the participation of the Russian Federation, whose members are openly opposed to Russia. In this situation, Russia is forced to withdraw from the process. No decision of such "arbitrators" will have legal force and will not be recognized by the Russian Federation," the Foreign Ministry stressed.

The impartiality and independence of international judicial and arbitration bodies is the most important condition for the implementation of the fundamental principle of peaceful settlement of disputes between states, the department stressed.

As reported by EADaily, in 2018, three Ukrainian warships violated the border of Russia and were detained. Crew members have been arrested.