Head of the Legal Committee of Haitham al-Maleh stresses that the Russian intervention in Syria is “illegitimate and illegal under the UN Charter and under international law.”
Maleh’s remarks came in a memorandum handed over to the Russian Embassy in Brussels during a sit-in held last Friday to denounce the Russian aggression on Syria and called for the overthrow of the Assad regime.
The memorandum indicates that the aggression violates the paragraph 4 of Article II of the Charter of the United Nations which prohibits the use of force in international relations. It also violates Article XXIV which obliges Russia to maintain international peace and security as a permanent member of the Security Council.
Maleh added that the Russian aggression violates article 51 which allow states to use force in self-defense, noting that Russia and Syria do not have common border, and there is no attack from the Syrians on Russia.
Moreover, Maleh pointed out that Russia violated UN Security Council resolution No. 2170 of 2014, which stipulates that the decision to combat terrorism needs to be referred to the UN Security Council.
Maleh concluded the memorandum stressing Bashar al-Assad and his government has long lost legitimacy, so according to international law, Russia cannot provide him with military aid. When the people claim their right to self-determination, as in the case of Syria, the government forfeits the legitimacy to rule, which applies to the case in Syria after the breakout of the revolution back in 2011. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
