Sweden will become a co-founder of a special tribunal to prosecute the Russian leadership
Sweden is joining the agreement to establish a Special Tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression committed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergård announced this on social media, confirming Stockholm’s intention to become a co-founder of this body.
“This is another step towards the establishment of the Tribunal, of which Sweden will be one of the founding members. We must ensure accountability for Russia’s crimes against Ukraine,” Stenergård noted in her post.
Background:
On 25 June 2025, Ukraine and the Council of Europe signed an agreement on the establishment of a Special Tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The main objective of this body is to hold the highest military and political leadership of the Russian Federation accountable for starting the war. The initiative has been supported by many countries, including EU member states, the US, Lithuania, Estonia, the UK and the European Union itself.
Legal basis of the tribunal:
The tribunal will have the status of an international body, and its work will be based on Article 8 bis of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, as well as on the provisions of UN General Assembly Resolution No. 3314.
This important step will form the basis for holding the Russian Federation internationally accountable for the crimes of aggression it has committed and opens up new possibilities for justice on the international stage.
As a reminder, the Swedish Coast Guard detained the tanker Sea Owl I in the Baltic Sea as it was heading for the Russian port of Primorsk. The vessel is subject to European Union sanctions in connection with Russia’s war against Ukraine.
