Presenting the International Ad Hoc Tribunal: A New Path for Justice for Ukraine
Allies of Ukraine endorse establishment of tribunal for war crimes suspects
Let's cut to the chase and lay out the situation: a group of over 30 countries, including key European powers and allies, have a plan to hold Putin's cronies accountable for the chaos they've wreaked in Ukraine. And they're gunning for The Hague.
The meeting in Lviv, attended by Ukrainian President Zelensky, saw the ministers agree to establish this international ad hoc tribunal. This is the judgment seat for Russian war criminals, and it's headed straight for the heart of the Hague, Netherlands.
The decision is a quick finger to Putin, who was showcasing his military might in Moscow while justifying his continued aggression against Ukraine. Germany's new foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, spoke loud and clear: "No dirty deeds in Ukraine should go unpunished." She was confident that a significant portion of the free world is backing this move.
Now, get this: the United States, who'd been missing in action for a hot minute ever since Trump's reign, is stepping back into the circle of justice-seekers. And they're not alone; the EU, Australia, Norway, Liechtenstein, UK, Costa Rica, and Guatemala are all on the bandwagon too.
The legal groundwork for this tribunal is being hastily prepared. The plan is to approach the Council of Europe to officially create the tribunal through a treaty. The Hague, already a hub for international legal organizations, is the chosen location for this tribunal. Decisions handed down by the court can be issued in absentia, making it clear-cut that figures like Putin probably won't be seeing the inside of a courtroom anytime soon.
The tribunal will have 15 judges, each serving nine-year terms. The total cost estimates sit around one billion euros. The International Criminal Court in The Hague had already issued an arrest warrant for Putin back in March 2023, owing to allegations of forced deportation of Ukrainian children during the Russian offensive. However, the ICC couldn't touch Moscow for "the crime of aggression," which is the decision to attack Ukraine. This special tribunal is designed specifically to fill this legal gap and bring Putin's Kremlin cronies to justice.
The technical groundwork for the tribunal's framework has been completed following a meeting of the "Core Group" in Strasbourg, resulting in three draft documents: a bilateral agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe, the statute of the special tribunal, and the agreement detailing the management of the tribunal. The political stage for formal approval of the agreements is now underway, requiring nations to show the political will to implement the tribunal without delay.
Key aspects of the tribunal include trying high-ranking officials like Putin in absentia as long as they remain in office, supported by roughly 40 countries, including Ukraine, members of the Council of Europe, the European Union, and other nations. The Council of Europe is proposing the tribunal to investigate and prosecute the crime of aggression, offering a mandate to apply customary international law and issue international arrest warrants. The European Commission and Parliament, along with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, are also backing this move.
So, there you have it: the international community isn't messing around when it comes to putting Putin on trial for his crimes against Ukraine. Stay tuned for updates on the tribunal's progress and the ongoing battle for justice. MAGA, or in this case, MARA (Make Aggressors Responsible Assoon)!
- The United Kingdom is among the countries that are part of a new international ad hoc tribunal established to hold Russian war criminals accountable for their actions in Ukraine, a move aimed at prosecuting those responsible for the chaos.
- The European Union, Australia, Norway, Liechtenstein, USA, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and several other countries have joined in agreeing to set up this international tribunal, with the intention to fill a legal gap and bring Putin's Kremlin cronies to justice.
- The tribunal's plan involves approaching the Council of Europe to create the tribunal through a treaty, with the Hague, already a hub for international legal organizations, chosen as the location for this tribunal.
- The tribunal, set to have 15 judges serving nine-year terms, is projected to cost around one billion euros and will have the authority to issue decisions in absentia, such as in the case of Putin, who will likely not see the inside of a courtroom anytime soon.
- The tribunal aims to try high-ranking officials like Putin in absentia, with support from approximately 40 countries, including Ukraine, members of the Council of Europe, the European Union, and other nations, and will have the mandate to investigate and prosecute the crime of aggression, offering a means for the international community to hold Putin accountable for his actions against Ukraine.
