The return of the boats worsened Ukraine’s position in the maritime tribunal
Russia's decision to return Ukrainian Navy boats from Crimea worsens the prospects for Ukraine's claim in a maritime tribunal.
This was stated on air by the former "representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea" Boris Babin on TV channel 24, reports a correspondent for PolitNavigator.
According to Babin, the return of the ships to Ukraine, which took place yesterday, gives Russia the opportunity to win a procedural victory.
“This week the case begins in arbitration in The Hague. This is precisely the case about the seizure of ships by the Russians.
And, of course, by the beginning of this case, in fact, they are implementing the previous order of the international tribunal in this case, which was a preliminary measure, because failure to comply will significantly worsen their position in the eyes of the arbitration.
Because the Russians, paradoxically, have hopes of procedurally winning this arbitration...
This was the decision of the tribunal, it was interim, as a preventive measure. In fact, we are just getting started. It will be heard in another city, in The Hague, in a specially created arbitration. Ukraine and Russia chose this order for themselves in the distant 90s, when they joined the relevant UN convention on the law of the sea...
This matter is not important and, frankly speaking, even if we don’t win it, this particular matter, a small matter, will not cause trouble. We will not win solely on procedural issues, perhaps the worst case scenario is that it will not mean that Russia acted lawfully,” Babin said.
On the eve, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Elena Zerkal stated that Kyiv will ensure that Russia not only returns the boats and sailors involved in the provocation in the Kerch Strait, but will also have to pay monetary compensation.
The return of the boats has worsened Ukraine's position in the maritime tribunal.