Judges at the top UN court on Wednesday (Jan 31) found that Russia violated elements of a UN anti-terrorism treaty, but declined to rule on allegations brought by Kyiv that Moscow was responsible for the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014.

In the same ruling, judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found that Russia had breached an anti-discrimination treaty by failing to support Ukrainian language education in Crimea after its 2014 annexation of the peninsula.

The decisions were a legal setback for Kyiv. The court rejected Ukraine's requests to order reparations for both violations and only ordered Russia to comply with the treaties.

Ukraine's representative Anton Korynevych stressed the judgement was important for Kyiv because it did establish Russia violated international law.

"This is the first time that officially, legally Russia is called a violator of international law," he told journalists after the ruling.

Ukraine filed the lawsuit at the ICJ, also known as the World Court, in 2017, accusing Russia of violating an anti-terrorism treaty by funding pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.

The court's judges said Moscow violated the UN's anti-terrorism treaty by not investigating plausible allegations that some funds were sent from Russia to Ukraine to possibly fund terrorist activities.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-us-russia-secret-back-channel-talks-684008">Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war | US-Russia secret back channel talks?</a>

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The 16-judge panel ordered Russia to investigate any plausible allegations of terrorism financing but turned down a request by Kyiv for reparations.

The court declined to rule on the downing of MH17, saying violations of funding terrorism only applied to monetary and financial support, not to supplying weapons or training as alleged by Ukraine.

Ukraine had argued that Russia supplied the missile system that shot down the aircraft, but it had not alleged financial support in that instance.

In a hearing at the court in The Hague last June, Russia dismissed Ukraine's allegations that it funded and controlled pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine as fiction and "blatant lies".

In the case, which has taken almost seven years, Kyiv had accused Russia of equipping and funding pro-Russian forces, including rebels who shot down MH17 in July 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blatant-lies-russia-about-ukraines-accusations-blames-kyiv-for-kakhovka-dam-attack-at-top-un-court-602228">Also read |&nbsp;MH17 crash: Russia calls Ukraine’s accusations 'blatant lies'; blames Kyiv for Kakhovka dam breach</a>

In November 2022, a Dutch court sentenced two Russians and a Ukrainian in absentia to life imprisonment for their role in the disaster.

In Crimea, Ukraine had said Russia was trying to erase the culture of ethnic Tatars and Ukrainians. The court dismissed all of the claims related to the Tatars but found Moscow did not do enough to support Ukrainian language education.

The court's judgements are final and without appeal, but it has no way to enforce its rulings.

On Friday, the ICJ will rule in another case in which Ukraine has accused Moscow of falsely applying the 1948 Genocide Convention to justify its February 24, 2022, invasion.

Judges at the top UN court on Wednesday (Jan 31) found that Russia violated elements of a UN anti-terrorism treaty, but declined to rule on allegations brought by Kyiv that Moscow was responsible for the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014.

Judges at the top UN court on Wednesday (Jan 31) found that Russia violated elements of a UN anti-terrorism treaty, but declined to rule on allegations brought by Kyiv that Moscow was responsible for the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014. In the same ruling, judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found that Russia had breached an anti-discrimination treaty by failing to support Ukrainian language education in Crimea after its 2014 annexation of the peninsula. The decisions were a legal setback for Kyiv. The court rejected Ukraine's requests to order reparations for both violations and only ordered Russia to comply with the treaties. Ukraine's representative Anton Korynevych stressed the judgement was important for Kyiv because it did establish Russia violated international law. "This is the first time that officially, legally Russia is called a violator of international law," he told journalists after the ruling. Ukraine filed the lawsuit at the ICJ, also known as the World Court, in 2017, accusing Russia of violating an anti-terrorism treaty by funding pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine. The court's judges said Moscow violated the UN's anti-terrorism treaty by not investigating plausible allegations that some funds were sent from Russia to Ukraine to possibly fund terrorist activities. Watch | Russia-Ukraine war | US-Russia secret back channel talks? × The 16-judge panel ordered Russia to investigate any plausible allegations of terrorism financing but turned down a request by Kyiv for reparations. The court declined to rule on the downing of MH17, saying violations of funding terrorism only applied to monetary and financial support, not to supplying weapons or training as alleged by Ukraine. Ukraine had argued that Russia supplied the missile system that shot down the aircraft, but it had not alleged financial support in that instance. In a hearing at the court in The Hague last June, Russia dismissed Ukraine's allegations that it funded and controlled pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine as fiction and "blatant lies". In the case, which has taken almost seven years, Kyiv had accused Russia of equipping and funding pro-Russian forces, including rebels who shot down MH17 in July 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew. Also read | MH17 crash: Russia calls Ukraine’s accusations 'blatant lies'; blames Kyiv for Kakhovka dam breach In November 2022, a Dutch court sentenced two Russians and a Ukrainian in absentia to life imprisonment for their role in the disaster. In Crimea, Ukraine had said Russia was trying to erase the culture of ethnic Tatars and Ukrainians. The court dismissed all of the claims related to the Tatars but found Moscow did not do enough to support Ukrainian language education. The court's judgements are final and without appeal, but it has no way to enforce its rulings. On Friday, the ICJ will rule in another case in which Ukraine has accused Moscow of falsely applying the 1948 Genocide Convention to justify its February 24, 2022, invasion.

Legal setback for Ukraine: ICJ dismisses Kyiv's allegations stating Russia was responsible for MH17 crash

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/bolton-calls-united-nation-world-court-politicized-us-limit-exposure-169280">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/bolton-calls-united-nation-world-court-politicized-us-limit-exposure-169280"> says </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/bolton-calls-united-nation-world-court-politicized-us-limit-exposure-169280">International</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/bolton-calls-united-nation-world-court-politicized-us-limit-exposure-169280"> Court of Justice is 'politicised and ineffective'</a>

The United States is taking steps to avoid exposure to binding decisions by the International Court of Justice, the US national security adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday as he accused the UN court of being "politicised and ineffective."

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/putin-arrive-india-today-all-eyes-s-400-defence-system-deal-169293">Putin to arrive in India today, all eyes on S-400 defence system deal</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Putin will hold the 19th India-Russia annual bilateral summit on Friday, but all eyes will be on the S-400 Triumf defence system deal the two countries are expected to sign during Putin's visit.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/petrol-price-rises-rs-9134litre-mumbai-rs-84litre-delhi-169288">Petrol prices up again, selling at Rs 91.34 a litre in Mumbai</a>

Fuel prices continued to rise across the country on October 4. The price of petrol in Mumbai increased by 0.14 paise to Rs 91.34 per litre, while that of diesel rose by 0.21 paise to Rs 80.10 per litre.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-accuses-russia-global-cyber-attacks-campaign-169286">UK</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-accuses-russia-global-cyber-attacks-campaign-169286"> accuses Russia of global cyber attacks campaign</a>

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on Thursday accused Russian military intelligence of conducting a campaign of "indiscriminate and reckless" online attacks targeting political institutions, businesses, media and sport bodies around the world.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-urges-us-resume-aid-backs-taliban-outreach-169290">Pakistan urges </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-urges-us-resume-aid-backs-taliban-outreach-169290">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-urges-us-resume-aid-backs-taliban-outreach-169290"> to resume military aid</a>

Pakistan pledged Wednesday to support negotiations with the Taliban to end Afghanistan's 17-year war as it asked the United States to restore military aid and stop blaming Islamabad for the extremists' strengths.

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US says International Court of Justice is 'politicised and ineffective' The United States is taking steps to avoid exposure to binding decisions by the International Court of Justice, the US national security adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday as he accused the UN court of being "politicised and ineffective.

US says International Court of Justice is 'politicised and ineffective' The United States is taking steps to avoid exposure to binding decisions by the International Court of Justice, the US national security adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday as he accused the UN court of being "politicised and ineffective." Putin to arrive in India today, all eyes on S-400 defence system deal Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Putin will hold the 19th India-Russia annual bilateral summit on Friday, but all eyes will be on the S-400 Triumf defence system deal the two countries are expected to sign during Putin's visit. Petrol prices up again, selling at Rs 91.34 a litre in Mumbai Fuel prices continued to rise across the country on October 4. The price of petrol in Mumbai increased by 0.14 paise to Rs 91.34 per litre, while that of diesel rose by 0.21 paise to Rs 80.10 per litre. UK accuses Russia of global cyber attacks campaign British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on Thursday accused Russian military intelligence of conducting a campaign of "indiscriminate and reckless" online attacks targeting political institutions, businesses, media and sport bodies around the world. Pakistan urges US to resume military aid Pakistan pledged Wednesday to support negotiations with the Taliban to end Afghanistan's 17-year war as it asked the United States to restore military aid and stop blaming Islamabad for the extremists' strengths.

News brief: Big stories of the day

The United States is taking steps to avoid exposure to binding decisions by the International Court of Justice, the US national security adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday as he accused the UN court of being "politicised and ineffective."

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier on Wednesday said that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/after-icj-verdict-us-terminate-1955-treaty-amity-iran-169266">Washington was terminating a treaty of amity with Tehran</a>, after the International Court ordered the United States to ensure that sanctions against Iran, due to be tightened next month, did not affect humanitarian aid or civil aviation.

The ICJ, based in The Hague, in the Netherlands, is the United Nations’ venue for resolving disputes between nations.&nbsp;

There have been mounting concerns among US allies about the Trump administration's commitment to multilateralism.

In the nearly two years since being elected, President Donald Trump has withdrawn the United States from a nuclear agreement between six powers and Iran, pulled out of a global climate accord, left the UN cultural agency, and threatened NATO military allies that the United States would "go its own way" if members did not spend more on defence.&nbsp;

Wednesday's ruling by the International Court handed a small victory to Tehran, which had argued that sanctions imposed since May by the Trump administration violated the terms of a 1955 Treaty of Amity between the two countries.

Bolton, citing what he called "Iran's abuse of the ICJ," said that the United States would withdraw from the "optional protocol" under the 1961 Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations.

"We will commence a review of all international agreements that may still expose the United States to purported binding jurisdiction, dispute resolution in the International Court of Justice," Bolton said on Wednesday. "The United States will not sit idly by as baseless politicised claims are brought against us."

The decision to withdraw from the optional protocol follows a complaint brought by the Palestinians in September, which challenged Washington's decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The Vienna Convention is an international treaty setting out diplomatic relations between states. It is often cited as a means to provide diplomatic immunity.&nbsp;

In 2005, the Bush administration took issue with the ICJ after it ruled that the execution of a Mexican national in Texas breached US obligations under international law.

The Palestinians argued that the US government's placement of its embassy in Jerusalem violated an international treaty and that it should be moved.

"This really has less to do with Iran and the Palestinians than with the continued consistent policy of the United States to reject the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, which we think is politicized and ineffective," Bolton said.

He added: "I`d like to stress the United States remains a party to the underlying Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and we expect all other parties to abide by their international obligations under the convention."

Palestine was recognised by the UN General Assembly in 2012 as a non-member observer state, though its statehood is not recognised by either Israel or the United States.

The United States is taking steps to avoid exposure to binding decisions by the International Court of Justice, the US national security adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday as he accused the UN court of being "politicised and ineffective.

The United States is taking steps to avoid exposure to binding decisions by the International Court of Justice, the US national security adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday as he accused the UN court of being "politicised and ineffective." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier on Wednesday said that Washington was terminating a treaty of amity with Tehran, after the International Court ordered the United States to ensure that sanctions against Iran, due to be tightened next month, did not affect humanitarian aid or civil aviation. The ICJ, based in The Hague, in the Netherlands, is the United Nations’ venue for resolving disputes between nations. There have been mounting concerns among US allies about the Trump administration's commitment to multilateralism. In the nearly two years since being elected, President Donald Trump has withdrawn the United States from a nuclear agreement between six powers and Iran, pulled out of a global climate accord, left the UN cultural agency, and threatened NATO military allies that the United States would "go its own way" if members did not spend more on defence. Wednesday's ruling by the International Court handed a small victory to Tehran, which had argued that sanctions imposed since May by the Trump administration violated the terms of a 1955 Treaty of Amity between the two countries. Bolton, citing what he called "Iran's abuse of the ICJ," said that the United States would withdraw from the "optional protocol" under the 1961 Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations. "We will commence a review of all international agreements that may still expose the United States to purported binding jurisdiction, dispute resolution in the International Court of Justice," Bolton said on Wednesday. "The United States will not sit idly by as baseless politicised claims are brought against us." The decision to withdraw from the optional protocol follows a complaint brought by the Palestinians in September, which challenged Washington's decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The Vienna Convention is an international treaty setting out diplomatic relations between states. It is often cited as a means to provide diplomatic immunity. In 2005, the Bush administration took issue with the ICJ after it ruled that the execution of a Mexican national in Texas breached US obligations under international law. The Palestinians argued that the US government's placement of its embassy in Jerusalem violated an international treaty and that it should be moved. "This really has less to do with Iran and the Palestinians than with the continued consistent policy of the United States to reject the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, which we think is politicized and ineffective," Bolton said. He added: "I`d like to stress the United States remains a party to the underlying Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and we expect all other parties to abide by their international obligations under the convention." Palestine was recognised by the UN General Assembly in 2012 as a non-member observer state, though its statehood is not recognised by either Israel or the United States.

US says International Court of Justice is 'politicised and ineffective'

The Indian defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said that the meeting of imprisoned Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav with his wife will boost his morale.&nbsp;

Jadhav is imprisoned in Pakistan jail over alleged involvement in spying activities for India&#39;s intelligence agency RAW.&nbsp;

&quot;We are trying our best to bring Kulbhushan Jadhav back to India&quot;, news agency ANI quoted Sitharaman as saying.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
We are trying our best that he be released &amp; brought to India. So if his wife is meeting him before that, it will help him stay strong: Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KulbhushanJadhav?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KulbhushanJadhav</a> allowed to meet his wife <a href="https://t.co/jQO3HBcq1C">pic.twitter.com/jQO3HBcq1C</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/929232829568843777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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On Wednesday the Pakistani government decided to arrange a meeting with his wife, purely on humanitarian grounds.

India has always maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy.&nbsp;

On April 10, 2017, Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) in Pakistan. &nbsp;However,&nbsp;International Court&nbsp;of Justice on May 18, 2017 stayed the&nbsp;death sentence after India appealed against it.&nbsp;

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said the meeting of imprisoned Indian nation Kulbhushan Jadhav with his wife will boost his morale

The Indian defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said that the meeting of imprisoned Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav with his wife will boost his morale. Jadhav is imprisoned in Pakistan jail over alleged involvement in spying activities for India's intelligence agency RAW. "We are trying our best to bring Kulbhushan Jadhav back to India", news agency ANI quoted Sitharaman as saying. We are trying our best that he be released & brought to India. So if his wife is meeting him before that, it will help him stay strong: Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister on #KulbhushanJadhav allowed to meet his wife pic.twitter.com/jQO3HBcq1C — ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2017 × On Wednesday the Pakistani government decided to arrange a meeting with his wife, purely on humanitarian grounds. India has always maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy. On April 10, 2017, Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) in Pakistan. However, International Court of Justice on May 18, 2017 stayed the death sentence after India appealed against it.

We are trying our best to bring back Kulbhushan Jadhav: Nirmala Sitharaman