Estonia joins creation of special tribunal for Russia’s crimes
Photo: Estonian flag (Getty Images)
On March 23, Estonia officially joined the Enhanced Partial Agreement on the Management Committee of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Russia’s Aggression against Ukraine, according to a statement from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The signing of the document confirms the country’s participation in establishing an international mechanism aimed at investigating and holding accountable those responsible for starting the war.
"With this step, we move closer to establishing the special tribunal and ensuring it becomes fully operational," the ministry emphasized. "Accountability matters. Impunity will not prevail."
Special Tribunal for the Crime of Russian Aggression
On June 25, 2025, Ukraine and the Council of Europe signed an agreement to establish a Special Tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
Its goal is to hold the highest military and political leadership of Russia accountable for starting the war. The initiative has been supported by EU countries, the US, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
The tribunal will have the status of an international body. Its work will be based on Article 8 bis of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the provisions of UN General Assembly Resolution 3314.
The court is expected to be able to make rulings even in the absence of the accused, particularly concerning the political and military leadership of Russia, and potentially Belarus and North Korea.
