European Council takes significant step toward establishing special tribunal for Russia
Photo: Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has instructed the Secretary-General of the Council, Marija Pejčinović Burić, to initiate preparations for a potential agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe on the actual establishment of the Tribunal, as reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this is an “important practical step” towards the establishment of a special tribunal for crimes committed by Russia.
In particular, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba said that Ukraine will continue to work to ensure that a fully operational tribunal delivers fair justice.
"This is critical not only for all Ukrainians who have suffered as a result of Russian aggression but also for all nations seeking to live in a peaceful and secure world," Kuleba added.
Special Tribunal for Russia's aggression against Ukraine
In early January of last year, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for the establishment of an international tribunal for the crimes of aggression committed by Russia and Belarus against Ukraine.
Then, in June, discussions began in the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine about the possibility of the international special tribunal against Russia being operational as early as 2024.
In early April 2024, Kuleba said that 44 countries had supported the idea of creating a special tribunal for Russia.
