New Delhi:
The UN’s top court on Wednesday ordered Russia to suspend its invasion of Ukraine, saying it was “profoundly concerned” by Moscow’s use of force. “The Russian Federation shall immediately suspend military operations that it commenced on 24 February on the territory of Ukraine,” pending the final decision in the case, presiding judge Joan Donoghue told the International Court of Justice, or ICJ.
“The court is profoundly concerned about the use of force by the Russian Federation which raises very serious issues in international law,” Justice Donoghue told a hearing in The Hague.
Kyiv dragged Moscow to the UN’s top court days after Russia’s attack on February 24.
India’s judge at the ICJ, Justice Dalveer Bhandari, also voted against Russia.
Justice Bhandari was nominated to the ICJ entirely on the support of the government and various missions over a period of time.
Justice Bhandari voting against Russia, though an independent move based on his interpretation of the Russia-Ukraine issue, is different from what India’s official position has been in different international fora.
