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Kiev plans to file lawsuit against Russia over Crimea — foreign minister

The lawsuit to be filed concerns Russia’s alleged violation of the Convention of the Law of the Sea
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin ITAR-TASS/Maxim Nikitin/
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin
© ITAR-TASS/Maxim Nikitin/

KIEV, September 13. /TASS/. Ukraine will file a lawsuit against Russia this week over Russia’s alleged violation of the Convention of the Law of the Sea, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin said on Monday.

"The first big suit will be lodged this week. It will concern the Convention of the law of the Sea. It will be a comprehensive document as it incorporates such fundamental issues as the use of the sea space, violation of environmental security, as well as cultural heritage sites," he said in an interview with the ICTV television channel.

He said it will be a "large-scope suit" but provided no further details.

In January 2016, Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko said his country would file a series of lawsuits against Russia with international courts over Crimea’s reunification with Russia.

The Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, a city with a special status on the Crimean Peninsula, where most residents are Russians, refused to recognize the legitimacy of authorities brought to power amid riots during a coup in Ukraine in February 2014.

Crimea and Sevastopol adopted declarations of independence on March 11, 2014. They held a referendum on March 16, 2014, in which 96.77% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the reunification deals March 18, 2014.

Despite the absolutely convincing results of the referendum, Ukraine has been refusing to recognize Crimea as a part of Russia.