International Court of Justice: Extension granted to Russia

Ukraine v. Russian Federation: Application of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

By an Order dated 13 July 2020, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, extended from 8 December 2020 to 8 April 2021 the time-limit for the filing of the Counter-Memorial of the Russian Federation in the case.

The Agents of the Russian Federation requested the Court to extend by twelve months the time-limit for the filing of the Counter-Memorial, explaining that the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic had led to ongoing difficulties and related delays in the preparation of that pleading”.

Though, the Agent of Ukraine indicated that his Government opposed the grant of any extension of the time-limit for the filing of the Counter-Memorial, explaining that the coronavirus-related restrictions currently in place did not justify the extension requested and that an extension would be severely prejudicial to Ukraine and would unduly delay the resolution of the case by the Court.

Source: International Court of Justice.