The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) heard oral arguments on Wednesday in a case concerning potential human rights violations committed by Russia via its occupation of Crimea. Though Russia is a party to the case of Ukraine v. Russia (re Crimea), no Russian representative was present at the Wednesday arguments since Russia left the convention in September 2022.

During oral arguments, the government of Ukraine argued that Russia took over Crimea in 2014 “through an act of aggression in violation of international law.” Ukraine referred to the occupation as a “coup” by Russia. Ukraine also noted that, through its occupation of Crimea, Russia committed “a full range of human rights violations” by its own forces or subordinate forces against those who oppose the occupation. Additionally, Ukraine called for an “urgent need of accountability for human rights violations and abuses.”

Ukraine sued Russia in the ECHR after the occupation began in 2014. Ukraine alleges that Russia’s occupation has violated numerous provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights. Some of these provisions include the right to life, the prohibition of inhuman treatment and torture, the right to liberty and security and the right to a fair trial.

In 2014, Russian forces seized the Crimean Autonomous Assembly, which later issued a declaration of independence from Ukraine. Russia has maintained control of Crimea since the annexation. The annexation started the Russo-Ukrainian conflict that led to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and a war that remains ongoing. Earlier this year, the ECHR ruled that applications made by Ukraine and the Netherlands against Russia in this case are partly admissible.

Ukraine has filed multiple cases in the ECHR against Russia. Additionally, the ECHR noted that Russia has over 7,400 applications pending before it over Crimea, eastern Ukraine, the Sea of Azov and the war in Ukraine.