Justice regarding Russia’s crime of aggression must prove international unity, as it was in Nuremberg – Zelensky

Justice regarding Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine must prove international unity, as it was in Nuremberg, and, for this purpose, the Special Tribunal should be created.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his speech at the online summit of Core Group leaders on the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reports, referring to the Office of the President of Ukraine.

“Our justice must prove international unity in fairness, as it was in Nuremberg. Unfortunately, the International Criminal Court, whose work we fully support, does not have jurisdiction over the crime of aggression. That is why the Tribunal is needed – to complement the global legal system,” Zelensky said.

In his words, the joint group working to punish the aggressor, i.e. the Core Group, already includes 37 states. The Head of State expressed confidence that this number would continue to grow, and Ukraine is constantly working to expand the coalition of defenders of justice.

Zelensky recalled that only four states initially had agreed to establish the Nuremberg Tribunal. However, a total of 24 states joined the coalition for the sake of the Tribunal.

“We are much more numerous now, and not only European countries are among us. Our joint work proves that striving for justice is global,” the President of Ukraine stressed.

According to Zelensky, the International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Russian Aggression will start its work in The Hague as soon as this summer. This will be a practical step in the processing of evidence for the Tribunal.

“So, we are moving forward, moving step by step,” Zelensky added.

The Head of State mentioned that currently countries can discuss what the model of the Special Tribunal should be in order to achieve the main goal – justice, as well as the order of steps that would result in the launch of the Tribunal. Discussions and coordination are normal for democratic nations, Zelensky noted.

The President of Ukraine emphasized that there is an absolutely clear agreement between the countries that the aggressor’s responsibility for the crime must be inevitable.

“On May 9, 1945, after the surrender of Nazi aggression on May 8, the world was already actively moving towards justice for the aggressor. On May 9 this year, our movement is similar – even more active, even more numerous, and I want to thank all of you for that! I am grateful to each and every one of you who is approaching the launch of the Special Tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine!” Zelensky stressed.

A reminder that, in September 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky established a working group headed by Andriy Yermak, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, to focus on the creation of the Special Tribunal intended to bring the Russian leadership to justice for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, and individual countries expressed support for the creation of such tribunal.