A Step Forward for Justice!
A special tribunal to prosecute Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is in the process of being established.
On February 3-4, 2025, a meeting was held in Brussels with legal experts from forty countries, the European Union, and the Council of Europe. The goal is to create a legal framework to prosecute those responsible for Russia’s invasion— a crime that does not fall under the jurisdiction of existing international courts.
Since the start of the full-scale war in February 2022, Ukraine has been calling for the establishment of this tribunal to ensure justice is served. The Council of Europe and the European Union support this initiative, affirming that impunity must not prevail. A register of damages caused by Russia has already been set up, and a compensation mechanism is under discussion. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated that Russia must be held accountable for its actions and face the consequences.
“The Council of Europe has stood with Ukraine since day one of the war,” recalled Secretary General Alain Berset.
Discussions are progressing, with the aim of reaching an agreement by the end of the year. France, actively involved in the process, fully supports this initiative alongside its European and Ukrainian partners. There can be no peace without justice, and the crimes committed in Ukraine must not go unanswered.
It is worth noting that, in parallel, more than 4,000 cases involving Russia are currently being examined by the European Court of Human Rights. These cases include Russian crimes committed in Crimea, Donbas, and across the rest of Ukraine.
