A coalition of 38 countries, including all members of the European Union, has announced significant progress in their efforts to establish a special tribunal to hold the Russian leadership accountable for the aggression against Ukraine. The tribunal will prosecute Russia’s political and military leaders, including President Vladimir Putin, for the crime of aggression. The legal statute is currently being drafted and is expected to be endorsed before the end of the year.
The tribunal will be established within the framework of the Council of Europe, with plans to act swiftly once the mandate is approved at the political level. The goal is to ensure accountability for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that Putin ordered almost three years ago.
This move is supported by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, who has been advocating for accountability for the aggression. The crime of aggression targets the person ultimately in charge of controlling the aggressor state, making Putin a likely defendant in a future trial.
The establishment of this tribunal is crucial to send a signal that unpunished crimes only encourage further aggression. The last time this kind of crime was addressed was during the Nuremberg trials after World War II. The coalition aims to have the tribunal in place before the war in Ukraine is over, emphasizing the importance of holding leaders accountable for their actions.
High Representative Kaja Kallas stressed that no one from Russia is untouchable, emphasizing the significance of accountability for the crime of aggression. This progress marks a major breakthrough in international efforts to address and seek justice for acts of aggression by state leaders.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.