Council of Europe approves step toward Special Tribunal
The decision was made by the EU and 36 countries of the world during a meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Chisinau. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine)
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on May 15 approved an enlarged partial agreement establishing the Steering Committee for the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry reported.
The decision was backed by 34 Council of Europe member states, the European Union, Australia and Costa Rica during a meeting of the Committee of Ministers in Chisinau, Moldova.
“These states have taken a decisive step toward the actual establishment of the Special Tribunal and recognition of responsibility for the aggression against Ukraine. The Special Tribunal is justice and hope. Now steps must be taken to implement this political commitment by ensuring the tribunal’s functioning and financing. The time when Russia must be held accountable for its aggression is rapidly approaching,” Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset said, as quoted by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the move marked a “point of no return,” adding that the Special Tribunal had now become “a legal reality.”
“At the same time, this is only the beginning on the road to justice,” Sybiha said.
“Putin always wanted to go down in history. And this Tribunal will help him achieve that. He will go down in history — as a criminal. And not only him. Putin, Shoigu, Gerasimov, Bortnikov, Zolotov, Medvedev, Patrushev, Lukashenko and others. Today, all of them received their ticket to The Hague,” the minister added.
Sybiha said the accountability infrastructure would consist of three elements: the Special Tribunal, an International Compensation Commission and a Register of Damage.
“The number of participating countries will grow. Premises will appear in The Hague. The first committee will begin its work. And there will be verdicts. Ukraine needs this. Europe needs this. And even Russia itself needs this Tribunal,” he said.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said the enlarged partial agreement establishing the Steering Committee would define the tribunal’s administrative and governance framework, while also creating additional mechanisms to broaden international support for the initiative.
Both Council of Europe member states and third countries will be able to join the agreement.
The Special Tribunal will investigate, prosecute and try individuals who bear primary responsibility for the war against Ukraine. It is intended to fill a jurisdictional gap left by the International Criminal Court, which cannot fully prosecute Russia’s crime of aggression.
Sybiha said on May 13 that the European Union had formally notified the Council of Europe of its intention to join the agreement on the Special Tribunal for Russia.
The coalition supporting the tribunal continues to expand and already includes countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, the Baltic states, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Greece, Luxembourg, Moldova, Slovenia, Portugal and Croatia.
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