The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has adopted a resolution calling for the establishment of a special tribunal to hold Vladimir Putin and the Russian leadership accountable for war crimes committed in Ukraine. This historic decision was made after intense debates in Strasbourg, where not only the issue of aggression against Ukraine was discussed, but also ways to counter Russia’s attempts to destroy Ukrainian cultural identity and increase sanctions against Moscow.
The Hague Prepares
In its announcement on the official PACE website, it is noted that the creation of a special tribunal is considered the best option in terms of legal basis and political legitimacy for holding the Russian leadership accountable. It is planned that the tribunal will be established based on an agreement between the Council of Europe and Ukraine, and the Netherlands have proposed to host it in The Hague, which has long been associated with international justice.
This step is part of a broader European strategy to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. In addition to creating the tribunal, PACE has also renewed its call for the confiscation of Russian assets and their transfer to an international compensation fund to reimburse the damages inflicted on Ukraine.
Next Step
It is worth noting that this decision is a logical continuation of the actions of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which in March of last year issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and children’s ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova. They are suspected of committing serious war crimes, including the illegal deportation of children from the occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia.
The adoption of this resolution demonstrates the international community’s determination in the fight for justice and human rights protection. This is an important signal not only for Ukraine but for the entire world that impunity for war crimes is unacceptable.
