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Tribunal for prosecution of Russian war crimes against Ukraine will be established soon, says Polish minister

11.10.2024 19:00
Polish Justice Minister Adam Bodnar confirmed this during a recent EU meeting in Luxembourg, stating that the tribunal will operate within the framework of the Council of Europe.
A woman holds the photo of a fallen Ukrainian soldier during a nationwide minute of silence for fallen soldiers amid the ongoing Russian invasion, October 1, 2024. Every year Ukrainians celebrate then the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, the Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks, and the Feast of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God.
A woman holds the photo of a fallen Ukrainian soldier during a nationwide minute of silence for fallen soldiers amid the ongoing Russian invasion, October 1, 2024. Every year Ukrainians celebrate then the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, the Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks, and the Feast of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God.SERGEY DOLZHENKO/PAP/EPA

Adam Bodnar, during the EU meeting of foreign ministers, emphasized the importance of holding key decision-makers, including Putin, accountable for the war, while evidence of war crimes and genocide is currently being collected by prosecutors from the International Criminal Court.

"This tribunal will focus solely on crimes of aggression, which means examining the chain of command—who made the decision to wage this aggressive war, who led it, and who made specific decisions. What good is it if someone judges a commander who issued disgraceful orders in Bucha or Mariupol if the ones responsible for making the decisions to start the aggressive war, like Shoigu or Putin, are not held accountable?" said the head of the Polish Ministry of Justice.

Putin would be tried for crimes of aggression, while evidence of war crimes and genocide in Ukraine is already being collected by prosecutors from the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Minister Bodnar acknowledged that he recently met with a team of prosecutors documenting all war crimes committed in Ukraine based on testimonies from witnesses currently in Poland. So far, they have identified cases that are still under detailed analysis.

Source: IAR/PAP/@hfprpl

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