Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved plans to create a special international tribunal to prosecute senior Russian officials for their role in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The tribunal, backed by the Council of Europe, aims to target top Russian leaders for the “crime of aggression,” which underpins war crimes committed since February 2022. Existing courts lack jurisdiction to prosecute Russian nationals for this specific offense.
Ukraine has been pushing for a special tribunal since the conflict began, seeking to hold Russian forces accountable for alleged war crimes such as bombing civilian infrastructure and killing civilians. Russia denies these accusations.
Logistical details, including the court’s base location, remain to be resolved. The Hague is being considered due to its existing legal infrastructure, but no final decision has been made. President Vladimir Putin enjoys immunity from prosecution under international law unless he leaves office.
The tribunal will be funded by supporting countries in the Core Group, including the Netherlands, Japan, and Canada. The US previously supported the project under former President Joe Biden, while a Trump administration declined to support it.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-tribunal-zelenskyy-eaa224303d17a52e73c954b6ce612aae