Foreign Affairs Committees call for international tribunal to prosecute Russia’s crimes

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On the initiative of the Baltic states, the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Parliaments of 19 countries and the European Parliament on January 30 issued a joint statement in which they expressed support to the investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, as well as advocated the establishment of a dedicated international tribunal for prosecuting the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine by Russia’s military invasion and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

According to the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees, the Russian Federation continues to grossly and blatantly violate international laws and obligations, including all principles of the UN Charter, through its aggressive war against Ukraine, its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. They point out that the planning, preparation, initiation or implementation of war of aggression infringing international agreements, treaties, or guarantees constitute a crime against peace.

“We underline that the crimes committed so far by the armed forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine demonstrate cynicism and impunity, and a disregard for war regulations and laws that limit the use of military force. We condemn the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine and do not recognise the annexation of the captured territories,” the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees say in the Statement issued before the EU-Ukraine summit.

The Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees strongly support the investigation launched by the International Criminal Court to identify and prosecute all persons who have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity on Ukrainian territory.

“We advocate the establishment of a dedicated international tribunal for bringing to justice the perpetrators of the international crime of aggression initiated by the Russian Federation on 24 February 2022 with a full-scale military invasion of the territory of sovereign Ukraine, by setting up an appropriate legal basis for this purpose, in addition to the International Criminal Court, which cannot exercise jurisdiction over this aggression,” they say.

The Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees also express solidarity with Ukraine and its people, encouraging all partners to demonstrate support in any possible way, including by visits to Ukraine.

The Statement has been signed by the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Parliaments of Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the European Parliament. Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima Rihards Kols signed the Statement on behalf of Latvia.

Text of the full statement in English.

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