Ukraine has proposed a comprehensive system of responsibility for violations of international law and the crime of russian aggression against Ukraine — this is a Special International Tribunal, which will have a mandate to prove guilt in committing the crime of russian aggression. This was noted by the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, during the opening of the Russian Warcrimes Exhibition in New York. The event was also attended by the President of Latvia Egils Levits and Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak in an online format.
“Approximately 40,000 war crimes committed by the russian federation – this is the preliminary and far from complete result of the calculations. In the de-occupied Kharkiv region, we are already recording mass burials of Ukrainian citizens killed by the russians. Hundreds of tortured civilians with traces of torture and tied hands,” Denys Shmyhal said noting that the exhibition was designed to convey this terrible truth to the world.
Knowing the truth about the cynical murders, rapes, looting, and torture by the russians, according to the Head of the Government, one cannot treat the russian leadership as a partner or a party to the dialogue: “All of them should be considered as a collective criminal.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that these crimes were not the actions of individual military units or individual commanders, but a purposeful genocide of the Ukrainian people. That is why the civilized world must hold accountable not only the perpetrators, but also those who order, plan and authorize these actions.
“The special tribunal will be an effective addition to the work of the International Criminal Court. It is within its competence to investigate crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The largest team of investigative and judicial experts in the history of the International Criminal Court has already visited Ukraine, and it is planned to open a representative office of the Court in our country,” said Denys Shmyhal.
The Head of the Government emphasized that Ukraine would relentlessly pursue the goal of punishing war criminals, regardless of the high positions they hold: “We count on broad international support. After all, unpunished crimes have the ability to repeat. The world cannot allow this if it seeks to follow the path of development and progress.”