Ukrainian parliament votes “historically” to join International Criminal Court

The debate over joining the institution was heated in Ukraine, with some fearing that Ukrainian fighters would be targeted by ICC proceedings.

After years of procrastination and despite opposition from the military, the Ukrainian parliament voted on Wednesday, August 21, for kyiv to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the hope of punishing Russia for alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine, several deputies announced.

The issue is highly sensitive in Ukraine, with many fearing that its armed forces fighting against the Russian military could in turn be targeted by the ICC, whose mission is to prosecute perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba welcomed the “historic decision”. “It was a long journey full of challenges, myths and fears. None of them were true. And today, we are finally here”he said on the social network X. In total, 281 parliamentarians voted to ratify the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC, while a minimum of 226 was required, and for Ukraine to become the 125th member of this institution, several elected officials announced on social networks.

This decision will open “greater possibilities to punish the Russians and will strengthen Russia’s isolation”welcomed on Facebook the deputy of the presidential party Yevgenia Kravchuk. According to her, Ukraine invoked Article 124 of the Rome Statute, which allows for the exemption, for seven years, of any Ukrainian, civilian or military, from any prosecution for war crimes by the ICC.

The ratification of this document submitted to Parliament by President Volodymyr Zelensky is part of kyiv’s commitments to the European Union, she added. “It is a necessary, fully justified and safe measure”the MP said. After the Russian military began its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the ICC has already issued arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin and several other senior Russian civilian and military officials for alleged crimes in Ukraine.