Zelensky stresses need for active steps to launch special tribunal for Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his speech at an event organized by representatives of parliaments of member countries of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), reported on the importance of further actions for the establishment and functioning of the established international special tribunal to hold Russia accountable for crimes committed on the territory of Ukraine. These words were uttered in the context of the signing of an agreement on June 25 between Zelensky and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, which laid the legal and political foundations for the future trial of military and political leaders of the Russian Federation. According to the Ukrainian leader, the agreement itself is only the first stage in a long path to justice. “This is a starting point,” Zelensky stressed. “Now it is necessary to take a number of concrete steps to make the tribunal fully operational. Coordinated actions, strong political will and joint work of the international community are needed so that every Russian criminal, including President Putin, is brought to justice for the crimes they committed.” The Head of State also sincerely thanked the members of the Ukrainian government who supported and voted for the creation of a special international tribunal. He called for continued active participation in this process and emphasized that justice must take its place in order to provide the Ukrainian community with full protection and ensure that war criminals will not be able to hide anywhere and from anyone. We would like to remind you that the signing of the agreement took place as part of international efforts to involve justice mechanisms to punish those responsible for committing crimes against the Ukrainian people. It is no coincidence that this step was taken in the context of broad support from the world community aimed at ensuring the rule of law and establishing international justice. It is important to note that this special tribunal will become a separate autonomous judicial body, created for the objective and impartial investigation and punishment of war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression, which has become one of the largest in modern history. As Zelensky emphasized, for this initiative to become real and effective, it is necessary to involve all possible diplomatic, legal and political levers. This means not only signing the document, but also creating the necessary regulatory framework, international cooperation in conducting investigative actions and ensuring security for all participants in the process. Without such human and legal factors, the implementation of this plan risks being delayed or disgraced due to indecision and political pressure. At the same time, the president emphasized: "We must do everything to ensure that the court is fair and effective. So that the criminals do not have shelter, so that they feel responsible for their actions and so that the world community helps bring this case to an end." This statement was another signal that Ukraine is fully committed to active cooperation with international partners in the matter of bringing international crimes to justice. In the context of the measures taken, it is important to understand that this initiative is an important step in the implementation of the idea of international justice, which should be irreversible and fair. Given the current challenges associated with long-term and complex investigations, Ukraine continues to call on the world to unite and take concerted action in punishing the perpetrators. It is obvious that the creation of a special tribunal for Russia is a complex and multifaceted process that will require constant political will, legal support and international coordination. Not only justice for Ukraine, but also trust in the international justice system, as well as the prevention of further conflicts and crimes, depends on its success. Therefore, the ability to launch this court in the allotted time and make it effective is one of the key challenges of our time for the entire global community.