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Zelensky and European Rights Body Establish Tribunal to Allow Prosecution of Russian Leaders
- On June 25, 2025, in Strasbourg, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Alain Berset, head of the Council of Europe, formalized an agreement to create a dedicated tribunal tasked with trying senior Russian officials for initiating acts of aggression against Ukraine.
- This tribunal follows Europe's May 2025 endorsement and addresses the ICC's limited jurisdiction over crimes of aggression, filling a legal gap to hold top officials accountable.
- The tribunal is being established with a panel of 15 judges appointed by a committee representing the participating nations, will operate according to European human rights legal principles, and is tasked with preparing charges against high-ranking Russian officials, including Vladimir Putin.
- President Zelensky emphasized that achieving justice for all Russian war criminals, including Putin, requires robust political and legal collaboration, highlighting the tribunal as a vital measure for ensuring accountability and lasting peace.
- The tribunal is expected to begin work soon, supporting evidence collection and prosecution efforts to deter further aggression, but challenges remain in securing custody of suspects due to immunity clauses while in office.
74 Articles
74 Articles
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today, on the occasion of Constitution Day, that the country is fighting for the main constitutional right of every people - the inalienable right to life and independence.
Ukraine and the Council of Europe have decided on a special tribunal on Russian war crimes in Ukraine. What distinguishes it from other attempts to hold the Russian leadership accountable? By E. Hyseni and F. Groom.
More and more Ukrainians are returning from Russian prisoners of war, where many have been tortured and abused. Kiev wants to bring the crimes to a special tribunal. That will bring little, according to critics.
Programme Officer (Ukraine) At Legal Action Worldwide
ABOUT LAW Founded in 2013, Legal Action Worldwide is an independent non-profit organisation comprised of human rights lawyers and jurists, united in our belief that those who have experienced grave human rights violations and international crimes, should receive targeted, survivor-centred, gender-competent, and trauma-informed support to access the justice they deserve. LAW’s teams work in/on conflict-affected and fragile contexts across 18 coun…
This week, Ukraine saw its allies recall their support in Kiev, both at the NATO and European Union Summits, and Volodymyr Zelensky was able to sign an agreement on the establishment of a special court for the crime of aggression against Ukraine with the Council of Europe. However, on the ground, Russian aggression is still ongoing.
Zelensky: agreement with the Council of Europe for a special court for Ukraine
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