Ukraine crisis. News in brief. Tuesday 7 March. [Ukrainian sources]

TUESDAY

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NEWS:
Russia Tells UN Court It Has No Jurisdiction In Ukraine Case. EU should share responsibility for Crimea annexation, Lithuanian FM Linkevičius say.  Two Russian militants killed, six wounded as their armored vehicle tripped mine on their own minefield.  Stockholm teens say Russian journalists attempted to bribe them for "action" on camera.  Canada and other Western countries should be prepared for Russia destabilization efforts.  US Embassy praises Ukrainian civil society's calls for effective and transparent judicial process. British FM says Western allies seek no new cold war with Russia, expect Kremlin to make steps to regain their trust.

WEATHER:
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Russia says the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague has no jurisdiction to issue an order Ukraine seeks to halt Moscow's support for separatists in eastern Ukraine and Crimea.

The matter is "clearly outside the court’s competence," Russian Foreign Ministry Legal Department Director Roman Kolodkin told the court on March 7, a day after lawyers for Ukraine accused Russia of making it "impossible for Ukrainian citizens to feel safe anywhere in their country."

Judges at the ICJ, the United Nations highest judicial body, hear disputes between states. Cases can take years to pass through the court and although its rulings are final and binding, it has no means of enforcing decisions.

Moscow seized control of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and has supported separatists in eastern Ukraine in fighting that has since killed more than 9,750 people.

Kyiv has accused Russia of violating UN conventions against terrorism and discrimination by supporting groups in eastern Ukraine and Crimea.

It also accuses Russia of mistreating Crimea's Tatar and ethnic Ukrainian populations since it seized control of the peninsula.

No Substantiations

The Kremlin has denied sending troops or military equipment to eastern Ukraine despite what Kyiv and Western countries say is incontrovertible evidence to the contrary...........

Access complete text of the editorial: rferl.org  In English

Two members of the 2nd Army Corps of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation were killed and six were wounded in explosion after their armored combat vehicle triggered a mine on their own minefield.

Censor.NET reports citing the statement by the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry.

The agency says morale lowers in the detachments and units of the 1st (Donetsk) and 2nd (Luhansk) Army Corps of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation primarily over mounting mistrust of the militants toward their commanders: "The soldiers and sergeants of a detachment of the 7th separate motorized rifle brigade (Bryanka) of the 2nd Army Corps are strongly dissatisfied with the decisions and orders of the officers of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation of the company-battalion level. The orders are made under influence which costs lives. The brigade commanders ignore numerous complaints filed by their subordinates."

Moreover, the enemy continues suffering non-battle personnel and hardware casualties due to a poor training and careless attitude to duties.

"Two servicemen of the 6th separate motorized rifle regiment (Kadiivka) of the 2nd Army Corps were killed and six were wounded as they tripped a mine on their own minefield. The armored combat vehicle carrying personnel was damaged beyond repair," the press office of the Defense Intelligence Agency said.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Teens in Rinkeby area of Stockholm told Danish radio they were offered money by a Russian TV crew in exchange for 'action' on camera.

Censor.NET reports citing TheLocal.se.

Danish radio station Radio24syv spoke to the Rinkeby youngsters after the suburb hit global headlines over a violent riot a day after US president Donald Trump made controversial comments on crime in Sweden.

"They came up to us and said they wanted to see some action. They wanted to bribe us 400 kronor each," a Rinkeby resident referred only to as 'Mohammed' told the radio station.

He said he did not know which TV station they represented, but that they had introduced themselves as Russian journalists and spoke what sounded like Russian to each other. The teenagers said they met them on February 22nd, two days after the riot.

"While we were talking to them, the police came over to us. We did not want to do any of that. But when the police came the Russian journalists said that we were the ones who had said that we would show them some action for 400 kronor each," said the boy.

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Chrystia Freeland, who is a critic of Russia and is barred from entering the country, said on Monday that her country should be prepared for Russia to try to destabilize its political system, saying it would be similar to its efforts in the United States.

As reported by Censor.NET citing Reuters, Canada's top diplomat was asked whether Russia had engaged in a smear campaign against her after negative articles appeared in pro-Russian media about her Ukrainian grandfather.

"It is public knowledge that there have been efforts, as U.S. intelligence forces have said, by Russia to destabilize the U.S. political system," Freeland told reporters in parliament.

"I think that Canadians and, indeed, other Western countries should be prepared for similar efforts to be directed at us," she said.

U.S. intelligence agencies concluded last year that Russia hacked and leaked Democratic emails during the 2016 presidential election campaign as part of an effort to tilt the vote in Republican Donald Trump's favor. The Kremlin has denied the allegations.

On Monday, Canada said it would renew a military training mission in Ukraine for another two years.

In 2015, the former Conservative government sent about 200 troops to help train Ukrainian soldiers battling Russian-backed separatists and Canada has trained more than 3,200 soldiers since then, Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said.

"This assistance is crucial to ensure a sovereign, secure and stable Ukraine," Sajjan said.

Three years of simmering military conflict between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists have killed more than 10,000 people.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius believes European Union cannot be blamed for annexation of Crimea and Russian war in Ukraine’s east but it should share this responsibility.

As reported by Censor.NET citing Krym.Realii, the diplomat expressed confidence that the EU was not proactive and was "capable to do more with regard of the pressure against the country which is conducting aggression."



The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine officially declared Feb. 20, 2014 the beginning of the temporary occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed the relevant law Oct. 7, 2015. International organizations recognized illegal the occupation and annexation of Crimea and condemned Russia's actions. Western countries have imposed economic sanctions against the aggressor state.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

U.S. Embassy in Ukraine stressed the need to establish independent anti-corruption court in Ukraine in view of recent charges put against Ukraine's State Fiscal Service chief.

U.S. Embassy in Ukraine wrote on Twitter, Censor.NET reports.

Inspiring to see Ukrainian civil society in action calling for effective and transparent judicial process.

— U.S. Embassy Kyiv (@USEmbassyKyiv) March 6, 2017

The need to establish independent anti-corruption #court is clear and growing more urgent.@nab_ukr

— U.S. Embassy Kyiv (@USEmbassyKyiv) March 6, 2017

Earlier, tax and customs service chief Roman Nasirov was first taken to the courtroom on March 4.

However, after he was examined by a doctor, the judge ruled to postpone the meeting to choose a preventive measure against Nasirov until the next day. On March 5, after the judge refused to adjourn the session again, the defense demanded his recusal, and the hearing halted.

Meanwhile, Automaidan activists gathered outside the courthouse to stay overnight and prevent Nasirov's possible escape.

In the morning, more activists began to arrive at the court building.

After the session started, the court denied the disqualification of the judge and rejected a forensic examination of Nasirov's state.

Even earlier, the court adjourned the hearing in the Nasirov case, following a motion by the lawyers to recuse the investigating judge. The lawyers demanded to postpone the hearing until Nasirov's condition stabilized, but the court overturned the motion.

March 2, NABU and SAP agents arrived at Feofania hospital to serve an indictment for criminal offence against Ukraine's chief taxman Roman Nasirov. The doctors barred the investigators and prosecutor from entering the ward saying Nasirov had allegedly suffered a heart attack. SAP head Nazar Kholodnytskyi said the decision to launch procedural activities into the case was made due to possible Nasirov's departure abroad and elimination of evidence. A video footage of Nasirov being served an indictment in Feofania hospital has been posted online.

SAP accuses Nasirov of taking unreasonable decisions on restructuring rental fees for the extraction of minerals, which helped Ukraine's fugitive MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko implement corruption schemes he is being charged with. This had lead to 2 bln hryvnia damage to the state ($74 million). Onyshchenko said the investigation would "prove nothing: there were no money in my relations with Nasirov."

Later, NABU said it was preparing a bail hearing inquiry regarding Nasirov. The detainee's lawyers say that Nasirov's health deteriorated and he underwent another surgery. SAP head Kholodnytskyi said he doubted Nasirov's diagnosis.

March 3, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine suspended Nasirov from office pending investigation. Myroslav Prodan was appointed acting head of the State Fiscal Service.

Nasirov said in an interview he had cooperated with the investigation since mid-2016.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says Western allies have no appetite for a new cold war with Russia altough it will have to prove it can be trusted again.

As reported by Censor.NET citing Reuters, U.K.'s top diplomat said on arrival at a meeting of EU foreign ministerson on Monday.

"Let's be clear: Russia is up to all sorts of no good. They've got to change, they've got to show they can be trusted again. I think that's very important," he added.

"It's also important to stress that we are not in a new cold war with Russia. Neither the U.K., nor our friends in the rest of the EU nor in Washington is there any appetite for a new cold war," he added.

ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

The UN International Court of Justice on Ukraine is unlikely to stop the conflict. But it could force Russia to justify its actions

The United Nations International Court of Justice began hearings for Ukraine’s lawsuit against Russia yesterday. This process could further damage Russia’s reputation.

The hearings, held March 6-9, concern preliminary measures in which Ukraine (as the plaintiff) requests that the court demand Russia exert greater control over the border to prevent “money, weapons, vehicles, instructors or armed groups” from entering Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine also requests that the court demand Russia stop discriminating against Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians in Crimea.

The court could issue a ruling on preliminary measures in one or two months. Afterward, the court will decide whether the parties have complied with the requirements on the admissibility of the lawsuit, particularly the requirement concerning preliminary negotiations between the parties.

Georgia’s lawsuit against Russia in 2008 was thrown out precisely because of its failure to comply with this condition. This time, however, preliminary negotiations did take place.

Two parts of the lawsuit concern the Terrorism Financing Convention of 1999 and the Convention to Eliminate Discrimination (CERD) of 1965 — documents that both countries have signed.

The lawsuit states that Russia’s violation of the first convention resulted in the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, the shelling and the killing of civilians in Mariupol, Kramatorsk, and near Volnovakha, as well as a series of terrorist attacks in Ukrainian cities. Violation of the second convention led to discrimination against the ethnic communities of Crimea.

The main result could be establishing the discrepancy between Russia’s actions and international law, and the violation of international agreements to which Russia is a signatory, says Kirill Koroteyev of the Memorial human rights watchdog.

If that happens, Russia will be obligated to correct its violations. Even if a country refuses to comply with a decision of the court — as the U.S. did in a lawsuit against its support for the contras in Nicaragua and Israel did in a lawsuit over its construction of a wall on Palestinian territory — the process weakens its position and is forced to justify its actions.

Russia’s defense tactic is obvious. First, Moscow declares that Kiev is engaged in a PR stunt instead of working to resolve differences between the two countries. (The Russian Foreign Ministry said as much in January.)

Second, Moscow maintains its position that it is not a party to the conflict and has no direct way to influence pro-Russian militants in southern and eastern Ukraine.

Russia cannot be forced to execute a decision of the court because it can block the ruling at the UN Security Council. But a long public discussion of the Ukrainian lawsuit in the International Court of Justice might prove a very effective PR campaign in the promotion of Kiev’s political interests.

themoscowtimes.com

U.S. President Donald Trump says Obama allowed Russia to get stronger and stronger and take Crimea away from Ukraine.

As reported by Censor.NET, the U.S. president wrote on Twitter.

For eight years Russia "ran over" President Obama, got stronger and stronger, picked-off Crimea and added missiles. Weak! @foxandfriends

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 7, 2017

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine officially declared Feb. 20, 2014 the beginning of the temporary occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed the relevant law Oct. 7, 2015. International organizations recognized illegal the occupation and annexation of Crimea and condemned Russia's actions. Western countries have imposed economic sanctions against the aggressor state.

ua.censor.net.ua, Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

The United States made it clear they would not change their position on Russia's aggression in the Donbas in exchange for cooperation with Moscow in other areas.

As reported by Censor.NET citing Holos Ameryky, this was stated by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

"A thesis was very clearly pronounced that no formal, informal, imaginary or mythological exchanges are possible," the foreign minister stressed.

"The Ukrainian issue will in no way be resolved in the context of other issues. The Ukrainian issue is fundamentally important for the United States of America," he added.

According to Klimkin, Tillerson echoes the position of the entire U.S. government, including President Donald Trump.

Earlier, U.S. Vice President Michael Pence said the Donald Trump administration condemns Russia's aggression against Ukraine but at the same time continues to consider the possibility of cooperation with Moscow in the fight against ISIS.



ua.censor.net.ua , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові

The United States is interfering in Ukraine’s internal affairs.

Как сообщает Цензор.НЕТ, об этом заявил народный депутат, глава Радикальной партии Олег Ляшко на .
This was stated by MP, Radical Party leader Oleh Liashko on his Facebook page, Censor.NET reports.

"The U.S. Embassy insists on creation of the anticorruption court in Ukraine. The U.S. Embassy offers its candidate for the NABU auditor. This is a foray into Ukraine's internal affairs! Not a single sovereign self-respecting state will ever allow anything like that to any foreign embassy or government. When Ukrainian government agrees for such interference, it humiliates Ukrainians," he wrote.

Read more: Radical MP Artemenko proposes "peace plan" on Ukraine to Trump's aides, offers to 'lease' Crimea to Russia for 100 years, - The New York Times

"I demand little from our American partners and allies: fulfill your obligations under the Budapest memorandum, conclude a direct military treaty with Ukraine, and give us defensive weapons to repulse the Russian aggression," Liashko wrote.

Several weeks earlier, Liashko party member, MP Andrii Artemenko allegedly attempted to pass his "peace plan" on Ukraine to U.S. official, then national security adviser to President Trump, Michael Flynn via Trump's partners and lawyers. Artemenko was subsequently banished from the party's parliamentary faction.

censor.net.ua , Original in Russian / На русском

In the United States on charges of illegally exporting military equipment arrested a citizen of Ukraine Volodymyr Nedoviza
This is stated in the press service of the Prosecutor's Office Eastern District of New York.

It is reported that Ukrainian presented a US citizen for the purchase of equipment and devices for military use, which are then delivered to Ukraine without a permit.

In particular, Nedoviz shipped to Ukraine scopes for carbines and thermal export of which, according to US law and strictly limited.

According to US prosecutors, Nedoviz worked with accomplices who acted under false names and with false companies. At the same time does not specify a period of Ukrainian illegally exporting military equipment. He could face up to 20 years in prison and $ 1 million fine.

espreso.tv , Original in Ukrainian / на українській мові