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Polish president urges special tribunal for Russian war crimes in Ukraine

01.04.2023 07:30
Polish President Andrzej Duda has renewed his call for the establishment of a special tribunal for Russian war crimes in Ukraine, saying that those responsible for atrocities must be held accountable.
Polish President Andrzej Duda.
Polish President Andrzej Duda.Photo: Jakub Szymczuk/KPRP

Speaking as Ukraine marked the anniversary of the recapture of Bucha, a town near Kyiv where Russian forces carried out mass killings of civilians, Duda said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to "the deaths of thousands of people, the destruction of entire cities" and "millions of human dramas."

He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin "proclaimed himself a master of life and death, standing above the law" when he decided to attack Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

"On the first anniversary of the liberation of Bucha from Russian occupation, we – the leaders of the free world – have a duty to recall that the fundamental provisions of law exist," Duda said on Friday.

He added that "all intentionally committed crimes must be penalized," and stated empthatically that "no one, no matter if a president, a general or any minister, will go unpunished."

'Russian war criminals will see a new Nuremberg'

Duda also said that "the enforcement of justice has already started" after the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin on March 17.

"I believe that this is only the beginning, which heralds a series of trials and that at the end the Russian war criminals will see a new Nuremberg," Duda said via video link.

He added: "Therefore the international community has to push for the establishment of a special tribunal for Russian war crimes in Ukraine. We owe it to all the victims of Bucha and thousands of others on Ukrainian soil."

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that his country would “never forgive” Russian soldiers responsible for the atrocities in Bucha, the Reuters news agency reported.

Saturday is day 402 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAPpresident.pl