Arbitral Tribunal and ECtHR: The Kerch Strait Incident November 2018

An incident between Ukrainian and Russian governmental vessels occurred in the vicinity of the entrance to the Kerch Strait, 25 November 2018, of which the facts are disputed.

In a letter (2) dated 27 November 2018, Ukraine informed the Arbitral Tribunal in the Dispute Concerning Coastal State Rights in the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and Kerch Strait (Ukraine v. the Russian Federation) (previously reported) about the incident, on the basis it aggravated the parties’ dispute. Ukraine also filed its response to Russia’s jurisdictional objections.

On the 29 November 2018 an inter-State application was lodged by Ukraine before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) under Article 33 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Application no. 55855/18, Ukraine v. Russia (VIII). The ECtHR put factual questions to the Russian Government. The Russian Justice Ministry responded, but objected to the Ukrainian application. On the 4 December 2018 the ECtHR, under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court, indicated interim measures to the Russian Government concerning medical treatment for the captive Ukrainian naval personnel.

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