UN court rejects Kiev bid for measures against rebels

The UN's top court on Wednesday rejected a bid by Kiev for emergency measures to halt Russia's alleged funnelling of money and arms into Ukraine's war-torn east, but warned Moscow to protect ethnic rights in Crimea. 


The complicated interim ruling by 16 judges at the International Court of Justice in The Hague came as the conflict in eastern Ukraine enters its fourth year. 


"Both parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the court or make it more difficult to resolve," the judges ordered. 


Seeking to bring stability to its east, Ukraine had sought an urgent interim court order demanding Russia refrain from "any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute" such as allegedly pumping money, weapons, equipment and personnel to the rebels. 


And it urged the tribunal to order Moscow to control its borders with eastern Ukraine and halt racial discrimination in Crimea -- particularly against Tatars -- which Russia annexed in March 2014. 


But the judges found that so far Kiev "has not put before the court evidence which affords a sufficient basis" to show that any funds from Moscow were used "to cause death or serious bodily harm to a civilian." 


Therefore "the conditions required for the indication of provisional measures" on whether Moscow had broken an international convention on terrorism financing "are not met

Source: NNA