Speeches

The EU must take all necessary steps to support the investigation of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and aggression committed by the Russian and Belarusian regimes. The perpetrators and concealers of brutal war crimes and human rights violations must be brought to justice and brought to justice as soon as possible. The EU must support the establishment of a special international tribunal tasked with investigating crimes of aggression against Ukraine beyond the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The EU must find the necessary human and financial resources as soon as possible, ensure the administrative, investigative and logistical support needed to set up a special tribunal to hold Russian political leaders, military leaders and their allies accountable. The atrocities perpetrated in Ukraine, such as indiscriminate bombing of cities, forced deportations, the use of prohibited ammunition, attacks on civilians fleeing through pre-arranged humanitarian corridors, executions and sexual violence, constitute violations of international humanitarian law. They may qualify as war crimes, but remain unpunished. The EU needs to act urgently as there is a serious risk that evidence of war crimes will be destroyed in the course of continued warfare.