Int’l center opens in The Hague to prosecute Russia’s war on Ukraine
The International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine (ICPA) opened in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Monday.
An international center that aims to prosecute Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine opened in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Monday, July 3, 2023.Photo: EPA/Koen van Weel
The center’s primary objective is to gather evidence of Russian crimes and ensure its secure preservation, with its establishment marking the first step in the process leading to the establishment of a dedicated tribunal within the European Union.
The launch of the center was announced by the bloc’s commissioner in charge of justice, Didier Reynders, who emphasized the event’s significance in the global fight against impunity.
„Today’s event is an important testimony to our commitment to the global fight against impunity,” Reynders said. „We cannot tolerate serious violations of the prohibition on the use of force, one of the fundamental principles of international law. We pledge to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
The newly established center will comprise a team of experts from the EU’s criminal justice cooperation agency, prosecutors from the International Criminal Court in The Hague, as well as the United States and several European countries, including Poland.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said on Monday: „Evidence of countless crimes committed by Russia is piling up. The new international law enforcement center will play a key role in bringing the perpetrators to justice, including for the crime of aggression. We will do everything we can to hold Putin and his henchmen accountable.”
The ICPA will provide crucial support and coordination for ongoing and future investigations into crimes committed by Russia. It will also facilitate the sharing and analysis of evidence collected since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP
