(United Nations) Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska pleaded in a video message to the UN on Wednesday for the creation of a special tribunal so that an “aggression” such as the Russian invasion of her country “cannot take place reproduce”.
“I think you will all agree that regardless of country or nationality, you have the right not to be killed in your own homes,” she said in this message released at an event. special report on human rights violations in Ukraine one year after the Russian invasion.
“But Ukrainians have been killed in front of the eyes of the whole world for a year, in their cities, villages, apartments, hospitals, theaters,” she added, defending Ukraine’s right to “self-defense”.
“That is why I call on the United Nations to establish a special tribunal for Russian crimes of aggression. We’re not the only ones who need it, it’s for everyone. So that it can’t happen again.”
Ukrainians have been pushing for months for the creation of such a tribunal to try those responsible for the invasion of Ukraine. They had considered presenting a resolution to that effect for the anniversary of the invasion, but the initiative was rejected, according to diplomats. The resolution being considered from Wednesday by the General Assembly calls primarily for a “just peace”, in the hope of garnering maximum support.
The International Criminal Court, which has launched investigations into war crimes and against humanity in Ukraine, does not have the power to try crimes of aggression against Russia, which is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, text founder of the ICC.
“Russia has committed all sorts of crimes against the Ukrainian people”, denounced Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kouleba, castigating in particular the “deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia”.
But “accountability for international crimes committed in Ukraine must be comprehensive, there must be no loopholes. Russian political and military leaders must also be tried,” he insisted.
In this context, the European Union recently announced the creation of an International Center dedicated to the prosecution of crimes of aggression in Ukraine, supported by Ukraine and based in The Hague.
This center “will collect evidence that can be used one day to judge the Russian leaders,” said Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra on Wednesday during this event at United Nations headquarters.
“Yes, we want peace, but the only way to get peace is not to tolerate this aggression,” he added.