Ukrainian Parliament ratifies Rome Statute
Photo: Verkhovna Rada ratified the Rome Statute in Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The relevant bill No. 0285 was voted in favor by 281 MPs, according to MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak.
Since it is a matter of ratification, this procedure does not require a second reading in the Rada.
According to Zhelezniak, there was a very difficult discussion in parliament during the consideration. In addition, MPs received letters of support from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, before the vote.
Photo: results of the vote in the session hall for the ratification of the Rome Statute (t.me/yzheleznyak)
What it means for Ukraine and why it matters
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is an international treaty that established the ICC. It defines how the court operates and the crimes that fall under its jurisdiction, including crimes of aggression, crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
As explained by Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Iryna Mudra, Ukraine's ratification of the Rome Statute allows it to become a full member of the ICC, which will allow it to:
- nominate its candidate for the position of ICC judge and prosecutor;
- participate in the election of judges and other elected officials;
- effectively cooperate with the ICC.
Most importantly, Ukraine has ratified the Rome Statute with a declaration under Article 124 of the Rome Statute, according to which the ICC will not have jurisdiction under Article 8 (war crimes) over Ukrainian nationals for 7 years after ratification.
In addition, the ratification will allow bringing Russian criminals to justice.
Ratification of the Rome Statute was also one of Ukraine's obligations under the Association Agreement with the European Union.
Background
Ukraine signed the Rome Statute on January 20, 2000, but did not ratify it, although after signing the Association Agreement with the EU in 2014, ratification of this document was one of Ukraine's direct international obligations.
Already this year, on 15 August, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a bill to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and amendments to it.
The President's Office explained that this would allow Ukraine, as a member state, to appeal directly to other members whose territory may be occupied by Russian President Vladimir Putin or his henchmen, with a demand to execute arrest warrants for these individuals suspected of committing genocide against the Ukrainian people and war crimes.
Yesterday, the Foreign Policy Committee supported the relevant draft law No. 0285 on ratification and recommended that the Verkhovna Rada approve it, which the MPs did.
