A New Judge Stands Tall in the Heart of Europe: The Special Tribunal Aimed at Putting Putin Behind Bars
Seclensky advocates for Putin's court appearance.
Get ready for justice, war criminals - including the Kremlin's big cheese, Vladimir Putin - have a new foe lurking in The Hague. This time, the Council of Europe has got their backs, ready to form a special tribunal to bring Russia's aggression against Ukraine to light. Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Selenskyj, has high hopes for this panel.
According to the Council of Europe, this panel will delve into the deepest depths of Russia's invasion, with judges taking the reigns from The Hague to ensure senior Russian political and military leaders like Putin, the prime minister, and the foreign minister, answer for their actions.
Selenskyj explicitly called for Putin's day in court, emphasizing the importance of strong political and legal cooperation to ensure that every Russian war criminal finds justice with no exceptions.
But, will Putin actually join the gang in jail cells? The Council of Europe has stated that heads of state and government, as well as foreign ministers, enjoy legal immunity. This means that Putin can only be convicted after he steps down or his immunity is lifted. But, the tribunal is still crucial for collecting evidence, prepping indictments, and making sure justice is served eventually.
Next up, interested states and the European Union could hop on board to participate in this high-stakes game of justice. The tribunal is aiming for a launch in the coming months, even if just preliminary.
The Council of Europe is a powerhouse of over 46 states and 700 million inhabitants, working to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Europe and beyond. They gave the green light to the tribunal back in May, stating that it would complement the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has already issued arrest warrants - including one for Putin - but cannot prosecute the crime of aggression between states unless both parties have ratified the Rome Statute. Russia, unfortunately, has yet to do so.
The special tribunal is set to fill this legal loophole, focusing specifically on the crime of aggression as the foundation for all other atrocities committed during the conflict. Overall, the creation of this tribunal marks a milestone towards restoring international rule of law, preventing future acts of aggression, and sending a clear message: Putin, your days are numbered.
Sources: ntv.de, mau/dpa/rts
- Ukraine Conflict
- Attack on Ukraine
- Ukraine
- Volodymyr Selenskyj
- International Criminal Court
- War Crimes
- War Criminals
- Despite the legal immunity that protects heads of state and government, including Putin, the special tribunal aims to collect evidence, prepare indictments, and ensure eventual justice for Russian war criminals in the context of the attack on Ukraine.
- As the Council of Europe comprises numerous EC countries and is committed to promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, that body's wholly owned creation of a special war crimes tribunal could significantly impact employment policy in various general-news arenas, such as international diplomacy, law enforcement, and foreign affairs.
