Twigan Cultural Centre case

  • Twiga - the UN member

    Twiga became the member state of the UN
  • Parties to the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties

    Pundamilia and Twiga became parties to the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
  • Military Assistance Agreement between the Republic of Twiga and the Republic of Pundamilia

  • The Minister of Defence of Pundamilia had concluded a contract with Twiga Helicopters Inc.

    In June 2012, the Minister of Defence of Pundamilia had concluded a contract with Twiga Helicopters
    Inc., a Twigan firm, for the delivery of 12 military helicopters to Pundamilia
  • Two helicopters were delivered to Pundamilia

    In June 2013, two helicopters were delivered to Pundamilia, as per the contract with Twiga Helicopters
    Inc
  • Mr Fisi - Ambassador to Pundamilia

    In 2014 the Government of Twiga appointed Mr Fisi, a high-ranking diplomat, as Ambassador to Pundamilia
  • Mrs Fisi bought the premises located at 22 Baobab Street

    Mrs Fisi bought, using her own money, the premises
    located at 22 Baobab Street, adjacent to the embassy’s building.
    Once Mrs Fisi took possession of the building, she used the front room for an exhibition of paintings
    and sculptures made by Twigan artists.
  • Mrs Fisi sold some items from her gallery,

    When she sold the items, she decided to transfer 30% of the proceeds from the sale
    to the embassy’s bank account, since she was using some of the embassy’s services, including for security.
  • Period: to

    The active sale of artwork from the Twigan Cultural Centre.

  • Period: to

    Three Pundamilian citizens filed separate complaints with the Pundamilia Public Prosecutor against Mrs Fisi

    Three Pundamilian citizens filed separate complaints with the Pundamilia Public Prosecutor against Mrs Fisi,
    alleging that she sold them a fake Van Tembo painting for 10,000 Pundamilian dollars each. They also
    initiated a civil action against the Ambassador’s wife to recover the money
  • Twiga bought from Mrs Fisi the premises where the Cultural Centre was located at 22 Baobab Street

    Twiga bought
    from Mrs Fisi the premises where the Cultural Centre was located at 22 Baobab Street, with the stated
    intention of expanding the premises of the diplomatic mission
  • Twiga’s Minister of Defence and the Minister of Foreign Affairs announced that the delivery of military helicopters was suspended in reaction to Pundamilia’s conduct

    In a joint press statement in May 2016, Twiga’s Minister of Defence and the Minister of Foreign
    Affairs announced that the delivery of military helicopters was suspended in reaction to Pundamilia’s conduct.
  • Pundamilian police searched the premises of the Twigan Cultural Centre as part of the investigation into Mrs Fisi’s conduct

    On 13 January 2016, Pundamilian police searched the premises of the Twigan Cultural Centre as part of the
    investigation into Mrs Fisi’s conduct. There they found and seized a Van Tembo painting which Pundamilian
    investigating authorities claimed to be a fake.
  • Twiga’s embassy in Pundamilia sent a Note Verbale to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pundamilia to protest against Pundamilia’s breaches of the inviolability of the premises of the Twigan embassy in Pudamilia.

    On 14 January 2016, Twiga’s embassy in Pundamilia sent a Note Verbale to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
    Pundamilia to protest against Pundamilia’s breaches of the inviolability of the premises of the Twigan embassy in
    Pudamilia.
  • The Savannah investigating judge issued a summons for Mrs Fisi to appear for a preliminary examination

    The Savannah investigating judge issued a summons for Mrs Fisi to appear for a
    preliminary examination (a step that precedes the issuance of an indictment under Pundamilian law). The judge also
    ordered the attachment of the premises of the Twigan Cultural Centre under the Pundamilian Code of Criminal
    Procedure. Mrs Fisi did not appear before the investigating judge, claiming she had immunity from the
    jurisdiction of the receiving State.
  • Pundamilia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs replied to the Note Verbale of 14 January 2016

    On 19 January 2016, Pundamilia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs replied to the Note Verbale of 14 January 2016
    informing the Twigan diplomatic mission that the Ministry was unable to grant the diplomatic mission’s request
    because the building located at 22 Baobab Street was not part of the premises of the diplomatic mission of the
    Republic of Twiga.
  • Twiga’s embassy in Pundamilia sent another Note Verbale to Pundamilia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    On 3 February 2016, Twiga’s embassy in Pundamilia sent another Note Verbale to Pundamilia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, suggesting a negotiated solution to the dispute concerning Pundamilia’s failure to
    recognize the jurisdictional immunity of Mrs Fisi, as well as the inviolability and immunity of the premises located
    at 22 Baobab Street. Pundamilia did not reply.
  • Mrs Fisi was indicted on criminal charges

  • Twiga filed an application against Pundamilia before the International Court of Justice Twiga requests the Court

  • Twiga's reply to the Pundamalia's counter-claim

    Twiga does not contest the admissibility of the counter-claim, but requests the Court to dismiss it on the
    merits.
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    Pundamalia's actions after the legal suit was filed against it

    Pundamilia makes a counter-claim, and requests the Court to
    adjudge and declare that Twiga breached its obligations
    under Article I of the Military Assistance Agreement. Pundamilia has neither discontinued the judicial proceedings against Mrs Fisi nor repealed the attachment order related to the premises of the Twigan Cultural Centre. The delivery of military helicopters
    to Pundamilia is still suspended.