"Ignorance of international law": Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine allowed border guards to open fire without warning

Ukrainian border guards were allowed to use weapons without warning if they were attacked. The relevant law on December 6 was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. In addition, the parliament extended the adjacent zone adjacent to the territorial waters, where border guards can operate.

"On the map of the Black Sea, areas appeared where, due to the lack of appropriate legislation preventing crime, including cargo transshipment across the sea, violation of the state border, in particular, by enemy agents and reconnaissance and sabotage groups," in the explanatory note.

It is noted that the situation with the “lack of legislation” arose allegedly due to the reunification of the Crimea and Russia in 2014. Recall that it happened as a result of a referendum, in which the majority of the population of the peninsula voted for reunification with the Russian Federation.

For the adoption of the law "On the adjacent zone of Ukraine" voted 244 deputies out of 450. Now it must be signed by President Petro Poroshenko.

• Boats of frontier service of Ukraine in Odessa
• Reuters
• © Yevgeny Volokin

"Attempt to escalate the situation"

At the moment, shipping is regulated by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. At the same time, new laws introduce confusion, says candidate of military sciences, professor Boris Usvyatsov.

“There is such a concept“ 12-mile zone ”- territorial waters, there is a concept“ economic zone ”. What they came up with for this bill is gray. Ignorance of international conventions, law. He will not be perceived by the normal, adequate people of the international community, ”he said in a conversation with RT.

The permission to open fire causes serious concerns, as it can provoke an international conflict, said Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies, in an interview with RT.

“Let's imagine that Ukrainian ships invaded the Russian territorial waters, and Russia opened fire on them without warning. This would lead to a major international conflict. Obviously, if Ukraine itself implies such actions, it means that it is ready to provoke a major international conflict, ”he stressed.

The introduction of this law suggests that Poroshenko is going to aggravate the situation in the Azov and Black Sea because of the upcoming elections in March of this year, said Konstantin Blokhin, leading researcher at the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

“Everything that is happening in Ukraine now is an attempt to escalate the situation to the impossible. Poroshenko is doing everything to extend the term of martial law in Ukraine. It is clear that during the current period of martial law, he will not be able to raise his rating to an acceptable height, ”he told RT.

In this case, according to Blokhin, we can expect new provocations aimed at Russia.

“We need to prepare for new provocations ... This will interfere with economic processes, the atmosphere of fear will increase. And when this atmosphere is present, unpredictable collisions can occur. If you look at each other through the scope, then every rustle can provoke a conflict, ”the expert emphasized.

Recall, on November 25, three Ukrainian military ships — the tug Yana Kapu and the armored Berdyansk and Nikopol — tried to cross the Russian border in the Kerch Strait area, not responding to requests from the border guards of the Russian Federation and ignoring the rules.

Russian border guards had to use weapons, after which the Ukrainian ships were detained. All 24 people aboard ships of the Ukrainian Navy were arrested, including officers of the SBU.

As a result, martial law was introduced in Ukraine in 10 regions. In Russia, the incident was called a Ukrainian provocation.

“This is, of course, a provocation organized by the current government (I think, as the current president) on the eve of the presidential elections in Ukraine in March next year,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin, commenting on the incident.

"Destroys the legal framework"

In addition, on Thursday, December 6, the Verkhovna Rada also adopted a law “On the termination of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation”, introduced earlier by Poroshenko. Thus, the bilateral agreement will be terminated on April 1, 2019 - when the current document expires.

On December 5, the Rada Committee on Foreign Affairs recommended adopting this bill, although it had previously criticized the document, arguing that it would damage the preparation of a lawsuit against Russia in international courts.

About this in an interview with RT. As noted by the Director of the Institute for Peace Initiatives and Conflictology Denis Denisov, none of the parties will benefit from the adoption of the document.

"The current political power in Ukraine of this kind of actions destroys the entire legal framework of relations between the two countries ... This is especially true of the humanitarian sphere," he said.