Forty-four countries have united to support the establishment of a special tribunal aimed at addressing Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
This collective stance was solidified in a political declaration during the "Restoring Justice for Ukraine" conference in The Hague, as reported by European Truth.
A Unified Call for Accountability
The signatory states have openly condemned Russia's actions against Ukraine as a severe breach of the global legal framework.
The countries include Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, Great Britain, and the USA. A total of 57 countries participated in the conference.
Echoing a UN court decision from March 16, 2022, the declaration demands an immediate cessation of hostilities by Russia. Beyond condemnation, these countries are rallying for concrete investigative and judicial actions to hold perpetrators accountable, including the crime of aggression, a focal point of international law violations.
Pioneering Steps Towards Justice
The declaration celebrates the establishment of the International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA) under the auspices of Eurojust. This entity acts as a critical coordination platform, uniting efforts between Ukraine, the Joint Investigative Team (JIT), the United States, and the Prosecutor's Office of the International Criminal Court.
The countries confirm their commitment to working towards the creation of a special tribunal to hold Russia accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. This effort aims to ensure the punishment of the highest military and political leaders of the Russian Federation. They "welcome significant progress in this matter" and urge states and international organizations to assist in developing a legal framework and international support to complete this process.
In the second section of the declaration, which focuses on compensation for damages caused to Ukraine, the initiation of the Register of Damages is celebrated. This register begins accepting applications from April 2.
The signatory countries assure that the sovereign assets of the Russian Federation within their jurisdiction will remain frozen until Russia ceases its aggression against Ukraine and compensates for the damage caused. They also welcome discussions about the potential use of these assets and their income for the benefit of Ukraine.
A Collective Push for Resolution
Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, stated that while the idea of a special tribunal was initially met with skepticism at the onset of the full-scale war, it now enjoys the support of many countries.
"I am grateful to all the countries that recognize the importance of the results in this matter. I am convinced that, working together, we will be able to find all the necessary solutions to make the tribunal a reality. One more push is needed to complete this case," he said.
It is worth noting that before the start of the conference, Kuleba mentioned that the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression was the only topic where no practical progress had been made, due to disputes over its concept.
