Russia has boycotted the UNs highest court hearings during which Ukraine is seeking an emergency order to stophostilities, arguing that Moscow has falsely applied genocide law tojustifyits invasion.

Hearings began at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Monday without legal representatitvesfromRussia.

The fact that Russias seats are empty speaks loudly. They are not here in this court of law: They are on a battlefield waging an aggressive war against my country, Ukrainian envoy Anton Korynevych said.

He requestedRussia to lay down your arms and put forward your evidence.

The court said it was sorry forRussias non-attendance. A hearing, initially set for Tuesday, for Russia to present its case was expected to be cancelled. In earlier cases before the ICJ where a party did not show up to present its side, the court ruled without input from such parties.

Countries have usually, but not always, followed the courts orders, which are legally binding. A spokesperson for the Russian embassy in the Netherlands did not reply to a request for comment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russias special military action is necessary to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide meaning those whose first or only language is Russian in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine said on Monday that Russias claim was without evidenceand the alleged genocide in eastern Ukraine was non-existent.

By F.Aslam