Let's Bring Putin to Justice: European Allies Usher In War Crimes Tribunal for Ukraine
Allies of Ukraine approve establishment of war crimes tribunal
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Step aside, Putin! European foreign ministers and their global counterparts are huddled up in Ukraine's heartland, Lviv, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joining in on the virtual party. The hot agenda? Punishing Russia's war crimes by establishing an international tribunal.
More than 30 countries, ranging from European powerhouses to partner nations, have formed an ad-hoc tribunal to hold Russia's leaders accountable, with the justice chamber setting up shop in The Hague, The Netherlands. You might be thinking, hey, isn't this a party to commemorate the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in '45? Why ruin the mood? Well, Russian President Vladimir Putin thought it prudent to give another round of justifications for invading Ukraine during the festivities. Ouch, Putin!
Germany's new Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock took center stage, urging her colleagues to set up this long-awaited court. "No one should be allowed to violate international law unpunished," she said. "Those responsible must be held accountable, period." In a salute to the "free world" and those defending the rule-of-law, she added that "it's a big step towards establishing this institution."
Politics: Shoving the US Back into the War Circle? Baerbock Strikes Again
While this might seem like a long shot, EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell is confident. "The tribunal will ensure perpetrators of aggression against Ukraine face the consequences," he said. Interestingly, Baerbock plans to push her US counterpart, Antony Blinken, to hop right back onto the support bandwagon—a gig the US abandoned during President Trump's reign. Apart from EU members, countries supporting this justice mission include Australia, Norway, UK, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and more.
Fill Some Legal Gaps: It's About Time
The aim is to fast-track a request to the Council of Europe to get the tribunal off the ground pronto. Based in The Hague, where the International Court of Justice and other legal bodies reside, the tribunal will be the place to issue verdicts on Russian officials responsible for the invasion, even if Putin and company refuse to show up. With 15 judges elected to serve for nine years each, the tribunal's estimated cost comes in a whopping euro-billion.
Politics: ICC Issues Warrant for Putin—But There's Catch
Speaking of Putin seeming elusive, the International Criminal Court in The Hague slapped a warrant on Putin back in March '23, accusing him of kidnapping Ukrainian children during the offensive. However, the ICC doesn't have the authority to prosecute the "crime of aggression" without the UN Security Council's backing, which is as likely as Putin admitting his guilt. That's why this special tribunal is of immense importance, stepping in to prosecute the Kremlin and military officials responsible for the unprovoked war on Ukraine.
Source
- Ukraine Conflict
- Ukraine
- Invasion of Ukraine
- Vladimir Putin
- Russia
- International Law
- Crime of Aggression
- War Crimes
- Judiciary
- Council of Europe
- The international tribunal, established in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, aims to hold Russian leaders accountable for their war crimes, with the justice chamber located in The Hague, The Netherlands.
- Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is leading the charge, advocating for the prosecution of those who violate international law, emphasizing that accountability is non-negotiable.
- EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, is optimistic about the tribunal, asserting that it will ensure Russian officials face consequences for their aggression against Ukraine.
- The tribunal is preparing to make a request to the Council of Europe for immediate activation, with plans to issue verdicts on responsible officials even if Putin and his associates refuse to participate.
- In a related development, the International Criminal Court in The Hague has issued a warrant for Putin's arrest for kidnapping Ukrainian children, but its lack of authority to prosecute the "crime of aggression" without UN Security Council approval highlights the importance of the special tribunal for prosecuting the Kremlin and military officials involved in the unprovoked war on Ukraine.
