The Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, Maria Zabolotskaya, asserted that Moscow anticipates an official apology from all parties who charged Russia with discriminating against Crimean Tatars in the wake of the International Court of Justice’s ruling on Ukraine’s case. This expectation follows the ICJ decision and reflects Russia’s stance on the broad dispute surrounding Crimea and minority rights within the region.
Zabolotskaya highlighted that the ICJ rejected most of Ukraine’s allegations concerning violations of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the International Convention on the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. She argued that the court’s findings undermine Kyiv’s rhetoric and the positions advanced by some Western supporters and affiliated non-governmental organizations that portrayed Russia as engaging in systematic discrimination in Crimea.
The diplomat stressed that the ICJ’s ruling casts doubt on the claims about Russian policy toward Crimean Tatars and other residents in Crimea, suggesting that the charges of widespread discrimination were unfounded in the view of the court. Zabolotskaya underscored that this outcome should prompt a reconsideration of the accusations that had been leveled for years, and she reiterated Russia’s expectation that those who spread such narratives should acknowledge their mistakes publicly and refrain from repeating them.
She further stated that Moscow will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that factual assessments prevail and that any future discourse about minority rights in Crimea is grounded in verified information rather than political expediency. The Russian side emphasizes the importance of a measured, evidence-based approach to evaluating claims about discrimination and the treatment of minority groups within the region, in line with international legal standards and the findings of the ICJ.
Previously reported concerns noted that the ICJ dismissed nearly all of Ukraine’s claims concerning the financing of terrorism allegations connected to events in Donbass, reinforcing the broader context of the dispute between Kyiv and Moscow and illustrating the complexity of applying international law to ongoing conflicts. The court’s ruling is viewed by Moscow as a clarification of legal responsibilities and a reminder that accusations in such charged political arenas must be supported by solid legal evidence and credible substantiation.
Historically, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine introduced language and terms related to racism in official discourse, which has influenced how the dispute is framed in various international forums. The current legal processes and the court’s careful evaluation of claims underscore the importance of precise terminology and careful legal argumentation when addressing sensitive topics such as minority rights and discrimination in Crimea, where historical tensions and competing narratives continue to shape policy debates and international responses.