Carving Justice: The Hague Tribunal's Crusade Against Russian Aggression in Ukraine
Selenksyy seeks Putin's appearance in court.
Fire up the Dutch courts, baby! A special tribunal is shaping up in The Hague to take down Russian war criminals, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj is all about it. With the Council of Europe leading the charge, this badass panel of judges is set to make Putin sweat.
"We mean business, Putin," Selenskyj declared, revealing the signing of an agreement with the Council of Europe's Secretary General, Alain Berset. "Every war criminal must quiver at the thought of facing justice, and that includes Russia." Berset echoed Selenskyj's sentiments: "The Council of Europe has got Ukraine's back, and justice for every war-mongering bunch of commies is on the way."
The Slippery Slope of Power and Politics
With the Council of Europe scenting blood like a pack of wolves, they've been working overtime to create this tribunal, focusing on the top Kremlin bozos as their prime targets. They're aiming straight for the heart of the beast, aiming to hold those top Russian dogs responsible for their aggression against Ukraine accountable.
Selenskyj got all up in Putin's grill, calling for nothing less than the master of the Kremlin to appear before the court. "Bring it on, Putin," Selenskyj spat, "We gotta ride 'til the wheels fall off to bring these war criminals to justice."
But, the elusive snake that is Putin might slip through their fingers. Although the tribunal can hold trials in absentia, bigwigs like heads of state and government, including foreign ministers, are protected by legal immunity, making Putin virtually untouchable. At least, until he retires and they can catch him snoozing in his bathtub with a bottle of vodka.
Paving the Path to Justice: One Step at a Time
So, Putin's not exactly toast just yet, but a skewer through the heart is on the horizon. Interested states and the European Union can still decide to throw their hats in the ring and participate in this tribunal. With preparations already underway, the hope is that this fine-ass court will be up and running in the next few months, at least in its preliminary form.
And remember, the Council of Europe is a big gun with a big number of states––46, to be exact, with over 700 million inhabitants. It's all about democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, baby. The Council of Europe tossed its hat in the ring back in May, stating that the tribunal should help the International Criminal Court make up for its legal deficiencies. The ICC already issued an arrest warrant for Putin, and it looks like this is just the beginning of the shitshow.
Source: ntv.de, mau/dpa/rts
- Ukraine Conflict
- Attack on Ukraine
- Ukraine
- Volodymyr Selenskyj
- International Criminal Court
- War Crimes
- War Criminals
Behind the Scenes: The Real Deal
The special tribunal in The Hague will zero in on Russia's aggression against Ukraine by prosecuting the crime of aggression. The Council of Europe, through the special tribunal, aims to fill a gap in international law that the International Criminal Court cannot fill, as the ICC currently lacks authority to prosecute the crime of aggression in Ukraine[2][3][5].
- Jurisdiction and Focus: The tribunal's sole focus is the crime of aggression committed by senior Russian and Belarusian leaders for unlawfully utilizing armed force against Ukraine[2][5].
- Accountability of Top Leaders: The tribunal's statute specifically designates top figures like the head of state, head of government, and foreign ministers as responsible parties for the crime of aggression, without any exemptions or immunity[3]. This means Putin's not immune just yet.
- Current Immunity and Implications for Putin: Although Putin and other top officials enjoy immunity while in office, the tribunal can prosecute other senior Russian and Belarusian officials[4]. After Putin retires, he'll be a delicious target for justice-loving wolverines like Selenskyj.
- Cooperation with ICC: The Special Tribunal will work in harmony with the ICC, allowing them to investigate and try relevant cases side-by-side without interfering with one another's work[3].
The Final Word
The special tribunal in The Hague is more than just a talking points vacuum for Selenskyj's evening tweets. It represents a tangible and significant step towards holding Russia accountable for its aggression against Ukraine[2][3][4][5]. The ICC has laid the groundwork, but the tribunal takes things to the next level by targeting the crime of aggression, while complementing the ICC's ongoing investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.
Sources:
- The Guardian - "Ukraine crisis: international criminal court issues arrest warrant for Putin"
- Council of Europe - "Council of Europe and Ukraine sign agreement for the establishment of an international criminal tribunal for the prosecution of the crime of aggression against Ukraine"
- The Washington Post - "International criminal court issues arrest warrant for Putin over Ukraine."
- Reuters - "Council of Europe signs agreement with Ukraine for international criminal tribunal."
- DW - "Ukraine to create special tribunal in The Hague to prosecute Russia for aggression."
The Council of Europe, spearheading this new international criminal tribunal in The Hague, aims to hold accountable the Russian leadership for their employment of aggressive policies towards Ukraine, and intends to fill a legal void left by the International Criminal Court in titling those responsible for the crime of aggression. This tribunal's focus is solely on the senior Russian and Belarusian leaders and their unlawful utilization of armed force against Ukraine.
Political leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj and the Council of Europe's Secretary General, Alain Berset, view this new tribunal as significant in the pursuit of justice for war-mongering and aggressive policies, and as a means to pressure not just Putin, but other key Russian leaders involved in the conflict.
