UK offers backing for special tribunal on Russian war crimes


Mass burial of people killed by the Russian invaders

The British government accepted Ukraine’s invitation to join an international group that is working to create a mechanism to ensure the accountability of Russian officials involved in war crimes against Ukraine, and also called on the G7 countries leaders to pitch in.

Read also: The European Parliament calls for the creation of a special tribunal to punish Russian war crimes

“Russia’s war crimes must not go unpunished,” UK foreign secretary James Cleverly said.

“That is why Britain has accepted Ukraine’s invitation to join this coalition bringing our legal expertise to the table to explore options to ensure Russia’s leaders are held to account.”

Read also: Ukrainian official explains importance of EP resolution on creating tribunal to punish Russia

However, some UK lawyers fear that the creation of a special tribunal may undermine the credibility of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, so they have resisted such a proposal.

At the same time, Ukraine’s proposal has the backing of former Labor prime minister Gordon Brown, the newspaper writes. The UK is ready to consider a “hybrid” tribunal establishment as some kind of a “specialized court integrated into the Ukrainian justice system with international elements.”

Read also: UK support of Ukraine will continue and ‘evolve,’ foreign secretary says

On Jan. 19, the European Parliament approved the resolution on the establishment of a tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine with 472 in favor, 19 noes, and 33 abstentions.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine



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