Crimean issue could be considered by Hague Tribunal

The proposal was made by the minister of foreign affairs of Spain.

The International Tribunal in The Hague could consider the “Crimean issue”, Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said at a press conference after the talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Interfax reports.

The International Tribunal in The Hague could hear this case, but Spain will not interfere with such affairs, the minister said, adding that he wanted Russia and the EU, with Spain as its member, to settle disputes within international law.

It does not matter what formula the parties will choose, but the issue should be solved in a peaceful way and strategic cooperation between the countries should be resumed, he stressed.

The Spanish foreign minister emphasised that Madrid did not recognise the annexation of Crimea by Russia that took place in March 2014.

“We do not recognise the annexation of Crimea by Russia and referendums in Crimea and Donbas,” Spain's foreign minister said.

Crimea was occupied by Russian troops in March 2014. Vladimir Putin took a decision to annex the peninsular after an illegal “referendum”.