EU seeks specialized court to probe possible Russian war crimes in Ukraine – National | 24CA News
The European Union proposed Wednesday to arrange a U.N.-backed specialised court docket to research doable battle crimes dedicated by Russia in Ukraine, and to make use of frozen Russian property to rebuild the war-torn nation.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen stated in a video message that the EU will work with worldwide companions to get “the broadest international support possible” for the tribunal, whereas persevering with to assist the work of the International Criminal Court.
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Since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, his army forces have been accused of abuses starting from killings within the Kyiv suburb of Bucha to lethal assaults on civilian amenities, together with the March 16 bombing of a theater in Mariupol that an Associated Press investigation established probably killed near 600 individuals.
Investigations of army crimes dedicated through the battle in Ukraine are underway round Europe, and the Hague-based International Criminal Court has already launched investigations.
Ukrainian first woman Olena Zelenska on Tuesday additionally urged that Ukraine’s invaders be held account as she addressed lawmakers in London.
“Victory is not the only thing we need. We need justice,” she stated, evaluating Russian battle crimes to the atrocities dedicated by Nazi Germany in World War II.
She known as on Britain to guide efforts to arrange a legal tribunal to prosecute senior Russians over the invasion, much like the postwar Nuremberg trials of main Nazis.
Von der Leyen on Wednesday added that the 27-nation bloc desires to make Russia pay for the destruction it prompted in neighboring Ukraine through the use of Russian property frozen below sanctions.
She estimated the injury to Ukraine at 600 billion euros.
“Russia and its oligarchs have to compensate Ukraine for the damage and cover the costs for rebuilding the country,” von der Leyen stated. “We have the means to make Russia pay.”
Von der Leyen stated 300 billion euros of the Russian central financial institution reserves has been immobilized, and that 19 billion euros of Russian oligarchs’ cash has been frozen.
“In the short term, we could create with our partners a structure to manage these funds and invest them,” she stated. “We would then use the proceeds for Ukraine, and once the sanctions are lifted, these funds should be used so that Russia pays full compensation for the damages caused to Ukraine.”
The EU stated the lifting of the restrictions on Russian property might be linked to conclusion of a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia that may settle the query of damages reparation.
© 2022 The Canadian Press
