The Hague Tribunal has equated the annexation of Crimea to the armed conflict

The International Criminal Court (ICC) recognized that the situation in the annexed Crimea had been equivalent to an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

It is stated in the annual report of the preliminary investigation of the Prosecutor of the International criminal court in Hague, Fatou Bensouda, and published on 14 November that the law of international armed conflict applies to the situation in Crimea, as «Correspondent» reports.

«According to received information, the situation in Crimea and Sevastopol is equivalent to the international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This international armed conflict began no later than 26 February when the Russian Federation has involved members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of the territory of Ukraine without the consent of the Government of Ukraine», the report says.

In addition, the law of international armed conflict applies to this situation after 18 March, 2014 to the extent where the events in Crimea and Sevastopol will be equivalent to the continuing occupation.

The Court also considered that the fact of establishment the legitimacy of the initial intervention resulted in the occupation is not required. Thus, the international conflict can be investigated by the Rome Statute standards.

The ICC Office of the Prosecutor also informs about the oppression of the Crimean Tatars on the peninsula, forced displacement of 179 persons arrested on the territory of the Russian Federation and the forced mobilization of the military service among the Crimean population.

The Prosecutor of the Court decided to continue collecting of evidence on this issue next year.

To remind some facts, on 16 March, 2014 the so-called referendum took place due to the support of the Russian army in Crimea and Russia annexed the peninsula. Its results had been recognized only by a few countries in the world dependent on Russia. On 27 March, 2014 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution «on the territorial integrity of Ukraine». «The Big Seven» countries and the European Union imposed economic sanctions against Russia in a protest against the violation of the international law and the armed aggression.