site.btaBulgaria Files Declaration of Intervention in the Case of Ukraine v. Russia in the International Court of Justice

Bulgaria Friday filed in the International Court of Justice a declaration of intervention in the case of Ukraine v. Russia for violation of the Genocide Convention, the Foreign Ministry said on twitter.

A document published on the Court's website says: "Today, the Republic of Bulgaria, invoking Article 63 of the Statute of the Court, filed in the Registry of the Court a declaration of intervention in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation).

"Pursuant to Article 63 of the Statute, whenever the construction of a convention to which States other than those concerned in the case are parties is in question, each of these States has the right to intervene in the proceedings. In this case, the construction given by the judgment of the Court will be equally binding upon them.

"To avail itself of the right of intervention conferred by Article 63 of the Statute, Bulgaria relies on its status as a party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

"Bulgaria states that, 'given the essential function of the prohibition of genocide in ensuring the interests of humanity and the erga omnes nature of the rights and obligations of States under the [Genocide] Convention, as a Contracting Party the Republic of Bulgaria has a direct interest in the construction that might be placed by the Court on the relevant provisions of the Convention and wishes to observe the consistent interpretation, application and fulfilment of the Convention among
all Contracting Parties'."

"In accordance with Article 83 of the Rules of Court, Ukraine and the Russian Federation have been invited to furnish written observations on Bulgaria’s declaration of intervention."