A special tribunal on Russia’s aggression will be based in the Netherlands
This was announced by Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Andriy Sibiga.
The tribunal will be based in The Hague
The decision by the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands provides for all stages of the Special Tribunal’s work to be based there — from the completion of the preparatory process to its full-scale operation. The tribunal is thus moving from the preparatory stage to becoming a fully-fledged international institution that will deal with the crime of aggression committed by Russia against Ukraine.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained the significance of the decision
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga noted that this decision demonstrates the readiness of international partners to move from political support to the practical establishment of a mechanism for international justice.
“For Ukraine, accountability has never been a matter of revenge. It is a necessary prerequisite for a just and lasting peace. Aggression that goes unpunished inevitably breeds further aggression,” Sibiga emphasised.
According to him, the establishment of a special tribunal will contribute not only to restoring justice for Ukraine, but also to strengthening the entire system of international law.
Why the Netherlands was chosen
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that The Hague is one of the world’s leading centres for international justice. It is home to the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the Permanent Court of Arbitration and a number of other international institutions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also thanked the Dutch government for its support of Ukraine and emphasised that the country remains one of the key partners in holding Russia to account for international crimes.
What steps remain
The next stage should be the completion by partner states of the internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the Expanded Partial Agreement on the Steering Committee of the Special Tribunal.
The Ministry expressed the hope that, once these procedures are completed, the tribunal will commence full-scale operations as soon as possible and proceed to exercise its jurisdiction over Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine.
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