On the initiative of the professors and academics of the Faculty of Law of Laval University, alarmed by the serious events underway in Ukraine and concerned about respect for the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the international humanitarian law and international human rights law, we, the undersigned, strongly condemn the armed aggression perpetrated by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
The actions of the Russian Federation constitute a flagrant violation of the prohibition of the use of force in international relations, a peremptory norm enshrined in Article 2, paragraph 4, of the United Nations Charter and in customary international law. These actions also constitute serious violations of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine.
Members of the international community have a duty to cooperate to put an end to these violations and to refrain from recognizing any factual situation that may result.
We also denounce the way in which international law is used by the Russian leadership to justify these serious violations, while the Russian Federation is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
We would also like to express our serious concerns about the consequences for the civilian population. This aggression is an affront to human dignity. Already, a high number of deaths is reported, thousands of people are fleeing the clashes and civilian buildings have been affected. Civilians must be kept away from hostilities and protected at all times, as must the organizations assisting them.
We recall, in this context, that the above actions are likely to engage not only the international responsibility of the Russian Federation, but also the individual responsibility of its leaders for international crimes, including the crime of aggression and crimes of war.
We appeal to all the departments of the governments of Quebec and Canada to urgently take all the measures at their disposal to put an end to the violations committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine. In particular, we call on Canada to strengthen cooperation with its international partners with a view to achieving a resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and the restoration of peace, within the framework provided by international law. We invite Quebec to support Canada’s efforts, including by facilitating the reception of Ukrainian refugees on its territory.
International peace and security and the maintenance of the international legal order, in Europe and worldwide, based on common values and the rule of law, also depend on the commitment of the Quebec and Canadian governments.
* This letter is supported by more than 100 professors from different universities.