Zelensky reacted to the decision of the tribunal to release the Ukrainian sailors
On May 25, 2019, the new President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Russia's compliance with the decision (order) of the UN International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (MTMP or ITLOS), obliging Moscow to release Ukrainian sailors and ships of the Ukrainian Navy, detained in November 2018 in the Kerch Strait, may become a signal to the Kremlin about its readiness to end the confrontation with Kiev. Zelensky wrote about this on his Facebook page.
- wrote Zelensky.
It must be recalled that Russia did not participate in the ITLOS hearings mentioned. A note from the Russian Foreign Ministry clearly states that the armed provocation in the Kerch Strait, organized by Kiev, is not within the jurisdiction of ITLOS. However, ITLOS CEO Park Jin Hyun ordered Russia to release 24 Ukrainian sailors and transfer three confiscated vessels to Ukraine, but he did not oblige Russia to terminate the criminal case against Ukrainian sailors. That is, ITLOS recognized that the Ukrainian military violated the state border of Russia, but they must be released for this. Therefore, it is unlikely that Moscow will rush to carry out such a decision (order).
In turn, Zelensky exudes optimism. Indeed, before the extraordinary elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (parliament), the real release of Ukrainian sailors who executed the criminal order of the previous “guarantor” would be a weighty argument in the eyes of voters. At the same time, Zelensky continues the rhetoric of the previous president of Ukraine, who blamed Russia for everything. For example, Zelensky added that following the ITLOS order, Russia could take a step “to unlock negotiations and solve the problems it created in a civilized way”. So this is Russia, it turns out, created a problem!
- summed up Zelensky.
It should be added that 22 Ukrainian sailors and 2 SBU officers who participated in the armed provocation in the Kerch Strait on November 25, 2018 were charged with illegal border crossing (part 3 of article 322 of the Criminal Code of Russia), which provides for up to six years in prison.
The fulfillment by the Russian Federation of the order of the International Tribunal of the United Nations on the release of captured Ukrainian sailors and ships may be the first signal from the Russian leadership about the real readiness to end the conflict with Ukraine
- wrote Zelensky.
It must be recalled that Russia did not participate in the ITLOS hearings mentioned. A note from the Russian Foreign Ministry clearly states that the armed provocation in the Kerch Strait, organized by Kiev, is not within the jurisdiction of ITLOS. However, ITLOS CEO Park Jin Hyun ordered Russia to release 24 Ukrainian sailors and transfer three confiscated vessels to Ukraine, but he did not oblige Russia to terminate the criminal case against Ukrainian sailors. That is, ITLOS recognized that the Ukrainian military violated the state border of Russia, but they must be released for this. Therefore, it is unlikely that Moscow will rush to carry out such a decision (order).
In turn, Zelensky exudes optimism. Indeed, before the extraordinary elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (parliament), the real release of Ukrainian sailors who executed the criminal order of the previous “guarantor” would be a weighty argument in the eyes of voters. At the same time, Zelensky continues the rhetoric of the previous president of Ukraine, who blamed Russia for everything. For example, Zelensky added that following the ITLOS order, Russia could take a step “to unlock negotiations and solve the problems it created in a civilized way”. So this is Russia, it turns out, created a problem!
We’ll see which way the Kremlin will choose. But we are really looking forward to our guys at home!
- summed up Zelensky.
It should be added that 22 Ukrainian sailors and 2 SBU officers who participated in the armed provocation in the Kerch Strait on November 25, 2018 were charged with illegal border crossing (part 3 of article 322 of the Criminal Code of Russia), which provides for up to six years in prison.
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