International office investigating Russian war crimes ramps up operations
Mike Brest
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Authorities in Ukraine, the European Union, and the United States opened an international office to build criminal cases against Russian leaders for the war in Ukraine.
The International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, which will work in The Hague, Netherlands, will begin operations on Monday and will consist of selected national prosecutors already involved with the joint investigation team. This center represents the latest development in the Western world’s attempts to hold Russian leaders responsible for their invasion of Ukraine.
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“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to bring unspeakable horrors, every day,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “Deeply worrying news about deliberate attacks against civilians, including children, have become a cruel daily reminder of the bloodshed that Putin brought back to our continent. Evidence of countless international crimes committed by Russia is piling up. The new international prosecution centre will play a key role in making sure that the perpetrators are brought to justice, including for the crime of aggression. We will leave no stone unturned to hold Putin and his henchmen accountable.”
The International Criminal Court announced an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in March, accusing him of being responsible for the thousands of children who have been forcibly deported to Russia, where they’ve undergone political reeducation training. The Kremlin quickly denounced the warrant.
The ICC is not able to prosecute the crime of aggression (the core war crime of starting a war against another country) because Russia and Ukraine have not ratified the Rome Statute that founded the court, which this office will focus on. The U.S., which is not a part of the ICC either, is supporting the effort.
“It’s the beginning of the end of impunity for the crime of aggression. Today, Ukrainian prosecutors are starting their work in The Hague,” Andriy Kostin, the prosecutor general of Ukraine, said. “ICPA has a special meaning for Ukraine — it’s a clear signal that the world is united and unwavering on the path to holding the Russian regime accountable for all its atrocities: the crime of aggression, genocide, and war crimes. Unfortunately, there is a gaping hole in the international criminal justice architecture regarding accountability for the crime of aggression.”
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Ukrainian prosecutors have identified more than 600 people in absentia who have been suspected of involvement in the crime of aggression and indicted 312 of them, Kostin noted.
It’s unclear where these cases may be prosecuted, though Ukrainian leaders have supported the creation of an international tribunal.