In view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the Council of Europe has unanimously called for the establishment of a special international tribunal. The representatives of the 46 member states passed a resolution on Thursday with 100 votes in favor and one abstention.
She demands that the government and military leaders in Russia and Belarus, who “planned, prepared, initiated or carried out” the aggression against Ukraine, be held accountable.
“Without their decision to wage this war of aggression against Ukraine, the resulting abuse, destruction, death and damage would not have occurred,” said the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
Some acts could be termed “genocide.”
The resolution also stressed that some of the acts committed by Russia in Ukraine against civilians, including killings and forced displacement of children for Russification purposes, “may fall under the definition of “genocide” under the 1948 international convention.
The Parliamentary Assembly called on Council of Europe member states to set up such a tribunal with the support of as many states and international organizations as possible, including the UN General Assembly. At their summit meeting in Reykjavik in May, the heads of state and government of the Council of Europe should also give the project “political support”.
The EU Parliament had already adopted a similar text last week.
A special tribunal could take action against Russia for the crime of “aggression” – unlike the International Criminal Court (ICC). Since Russia does not recognize the ICC, the Court can only investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) also suggested a new type of Ukraine tribunal last week in order to “investigate against the Russian leadership and bring them to justice”. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj had already called for this several times, as had the Baltic states.
Since the exclusion of Russia, 46 countries have belonged to the Council of Europe. The country organization based in Strasbourg is committed to democracy, human rights and the rule of law. (AFP)
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