Hague arbitration refused to recognize Crimea as Ukrainian

The Arbitration Court, established through the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, recognized that it had no right to decide the issue of sovereignty over Crimea in the case of Ukraine's claims against Russia. The court decision notes that the tribunal supports the Russian side in the matter of jurisdiction and recognizes that it does not possess it in relation to Ukrainian claims, RIA Novosti reported. Any decision of arbitration on the merits of the claim of Ukraine with necessity will require a direct or implicit decision on the issue of sovereignty over Crimea by one of the parties, the document says. According to the news agency, the companies of Ukraine initiated court proceedings on June 19, 2015. The plaintiffs claimed that Russia allegedly violated a bilateral agreement on the promotion and mutual protection of investment signed as early as 1998. Moscow was also accused of making a decision that led to expropriation of previously made investments in Crimea.