The Future of International Justice Concerning Russia: Challenges and Opportunities According to Mumedov
The establishment of a Special Tribunal to hold Russia accountable for its aggression against Ukraine marks a significant yet highly complex step in the framework of international justice. As emphasized by esteemed Ukrainian jurist and former Deputy Prosecutor General Gyunduz Mumedov, this process will be long and exhausting, requiring systematic persistence at every stage. The signing of an agreement with the Council of Europe to create the tribunal is merely the first step, opening the path toward assembling its composition, securing funding, and establishing procedural logistics. The primary goal is ensuring the tribunal's effectiveness in prosecuting crimes related to aggression, war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity — crimes whose scale far exceeds the capacities of existing judicial bodies such as the International Criminal Court or national courts. Mumedov highlights that this tribunal could become part of a comprehensive justice architecture for the consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war, not limited solely to the crime of aggression. He stresses the necessity of political will and the international community's commitment to see this process through, despite its lengthy duration, to send a powerful signal worldwide: no act of aggression should remain unpunished, even if committed by a permanent member of the UN Security Council. He warns about the risks of politicization and underscores that verdicts should be tangible, not merely symbolic, because justice must produce real outcomes. Furthermore, he notes that the success of this initiative will determine the future of international criminal justice — whether it will be capable of effectively prosecuting crimes or become hostage to political games and elite interests.