International Legal News - 22 September 2025
- Ned Vucijak
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The following media round up on international and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period of 15 September to 21 September 2025.
Guernica 37 will provide weekly media updates from the International Criminal Court, European Court of Human Rights, United Nations, European Union and other sources. Should you wish to contribute or submit a media summary, opinion piece or blog, please send to Ned Vucijak at nenadv@guernica37.com for consideration.
21 September 2025
State of Palestine formally recognised by UK, alongside Canada and Australia
The United Kingdom, alongside two of its commonwealth partners, has recognised the State of Palestine.
The decision, which represents a paradigm shift in UK foreign policy was formalised in a statement issued by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on Sunday.
The right to self-determination has emerged as a legal norm under international law in the context of decolonization. Recognition of Palestine by the UK represents a unique example, insofar as Palestine was under British mandate until Israel declared independence following a UN partition plan in 1947.
For more on this story, see here.
19 September 2025
European Union approves agreement on Energy Charter
The EU has approved an agreement which confirms the views of all but one member states that the Energy Charter Treaty’s investor-state arbitration clause does not serve as a legal basis for intra-EU investment arbitration.
For more on this story, see here.
18 September 2025
CPJ condemns jailing of anti-corruption journalists in Kyrgyzstan
The Committee to Protect Journalists has condemned a Kyrgyzstan court which has sentenced two journalists.
Joomart Duulatov and Aleksandr Aleksandrov, who worked as cameramen for the anti-corruption agency Kloop, were detained on May 28 for allegedly inciting riots through the distribution of online videos. They have alleged that neither they nor Kloop had involvement in the videos, which they say were created by a separate YouTube-based investigative organisation.
Although freedom of the press and speech is guaranteed under Article 32(2) of Kyrgyzstan’s Constitution, it is reported that in practice traditional media is state-owned, and it is reported that the remaining independent outlets have experienced difficulties since 2022.
For more on this story, see here.
17 September 2025
Russian strike kills dozens of elderly in Ukraine
It is reported that a Russian airstrike on the village of Yarova in Ukraine’s Donetska region on the 9 September took place.
Official reports from the National Police of Ukraine and the Donetsk Regional Military Administration confirmed the attack killed 25 people – 16 woman and 9 men, with another 18 injured.
The NGO Human Rights Watch has stated that it has received reports that all were civilians, with victims ranging from the ages of 53-87.
For more on this story, see here.
16 September 2025
UK Deportations under ‘One-in, One-out’ plan initially halted
A 25-year-old Eritrean man was able to secure an 11th hour challenge against his deportation to France under the new ‘One-in, One-out’ agreement.
The challenge was made under grounds that the applicant was the victim of human trafficking.
The Guardian Newspaper reports that Sonali Naik KC, representing the unnamed man, told the court on Tuesday he faced a “real risk of destitution” if he was put on a flight to France. Kate Grange KC, for the Home Office, said it was important for the agreement with France to go ahead because of the continuing risk to life of Channel crossings. “Serious injury and death, including of children, from small boat crossings in the English Channel is a grave social and political concern at the present time.”
Following the date of this story, further reports have emerged that the challenge has now failed.
For more on this story see here.
For the follow-up to this story, see here.
15 September 2025
Protests in Ankara ahead of anticipated Court Decision
It is reported that a protest attracting thousands of participants took place in the Turkish capital of Ankara over an expected judgment that could reshape the main opposition party following litigation concerning the arrest of opposition politicians.
The judgment concerns whether the 2023 congress of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) should be invalidated, in effect ousting its leader, Özgür Özel, following allegations of procedural irregularities.
The NGO Amnesty International reports that Türkiye’s crackdown on pro-CHP protesters is viewed as being part of a wider pattern of suppressing political opposition in the country.
For more on this story, see here.