The Council of Europe and Ukraine on Wednesday signed a contract to produce an unique tribunal to prosecute Russian leaders for the crime of aggressiveness against Ukraine.The United Nations Charter defines a criminal offense of aggression as making use of armed force by a State against the sovereignty, territorial stability or political independence of another State.Ukrainian authorities requested the establishment of a special tribunal on May 13, 2025, as part of a continuous effort to hold Russian authorities liable for launching the invasion of Ukraine.The arrangement to establish the tribunal was signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, during an event at the councils head office in Strasbourg, France.Russia was expelled from the Council following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The tribunal is anticipated to carry out main examinations, collect evidence and prepare indictments against top Russian political and military leaders who are considered responsible for beginning the war.However, while in office, leading Russian leaders are immune from prosecution due to an immunity provision protecting sitting presidents, heads of federal governments and foreign ministers.The tribunal will have the authority to prosecute Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov once they leave workplace, or if the Russian Federation raises their immunity.The contract intends to fill a legal gap left by the International Criminal Court (ICC), as the Hague-based court can not look at the crime of aggressiveness in Ukraine due to jurisdictional limitations.The new tribunal will consist of 15 judges chosen by a committee representing the nations that sign on to its creation.This historic signature advises us that worldwide law need to apply to all without any exceptions, and with no double requirements, stated Berset.
This is a tribunal to judge in between victims and assailants, in between impunity and responsibility, because without accountability, there can be no lasting peace for Ukraine and Europe as a whole, he added.Russias Foreign Ministry said later Thursday that Moscow would disregard the tribunal and its rulings.The work and choices of this body will be useless to us.
We will concern the accession of any state to it as a hostile act, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told journalists.AFP contributed reporting.