The First Step Towards Justice: Ukraine Launches the Process to Establish a Tribunal Against the Russian Federation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed off on the ratification of an agreement to create a Special Tribunal aimed at holding Russia accountable for its crime of aggression against Ukraine.

He signed the relevant agreement on 25 June, together with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset.

“Now the document must be ratified as soon as possible to begin the process of actually launching a new legal institution,” Zelenskyy said.

The Head of State also instructed that all necessary amendments to the legislation be prepared and submitted to Parliament for consideration:
“From our side, everything must be ensured one hundred percent for the full implementation of the agreement on the establishment of the tribunal.”

The President called on the Verkhovna Rada not to delay consideration of this issue. In addition, Zelenskyy expects the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President to provide a clear plan for cooperation with international partners to ensure the practical implementation of the agreement.

“This year, Russia must feel that its crime of aggression will not go unpunished. A real legal process must begin. Punishment for aggression is a global issue for all who value peace and security,” he concluded.

We remind you that on Friday, May 9, a joint agreement was signed between Ukraine and the Council of Europe in Lviv.

As reported, Western allies have agreed on a key principle for the work of the future Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine — Vladimir Putin will not be tried in absentia while he remains the president of Russia. This condition is included in the draft agreement, which is to become the legal basis of the tribunal under the auspices of the Council of Europe.

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