Ukraine working on several options to create special tribunal for Russia - diplomat

Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Anton Korynevych said this during a discussion program as part of the first parliamentary summit of the International Crimea Platform in Zagreb on Monday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

Korynevych noted that Russia's aggression actually began in February 2014 with the temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

"Since this crime, which began in 2014, continues now, we are sure that one of the possible answers is the creation of a special tribunal to bring to justice those guilty of aggression against Ukraine. The creation of this tribunal, its work and mandate, its jurisdiction will relate to the crime of aggression against Ukraine, which began in Crimea, and this will be the correct legal responsibility for Russian leaders for all that they have committed and are committing since the end of February 2014," Korynevych said.

He said that the creation of the special tribunal is a priority for the Ukrainian government.

According to him, Ukraine has several options as to how this tribunal can be established.

"The first option is the creation of a special tribunal based on a multilateral agreement between countries. This means that Ukraine and the governments of other states can sign and ratify the agreement on the creation of such a tribunal and its statute, which will be an appendix to this agreement," Korynevych said.

In addition, he said, the special tribunal can be established on the basis of an agreement between Ukraine and international organizations, for example, the UN, which can adopt a relevant resolution, or Ukraine can conclude a corresponding agreement with regional European organizations, for example, the EU or the Council of Europe, since the current Russian aggression has caused a war in Europe, the largest since the Second World War.

"We can conclude an agreement between many parties or between Ukraine and international organizations. Ukraine is working to prepare a draft of such an agreement and is ready to cooperate with international partners. These drafts are being developed so that, regardless of which option is chosen, we can adjust these documents and begin the creation of the tribunal," Korynevych said.

The first parliamentary summit of the International Crimea Platform is taking place in Zagreb, Croatia, on October 24-25. Delegations from more than 50 countries and institutions are invited to participate in the event, with about 400 politicians from all over the world expected to attend. Ukraine also invited representatives of countries that are not members of the platform, in particular from South America, Africa and Asia.

On September 22, President Volodymyr Zelensky set up a working group chaired by the head of his office, Andriy Yermak, to deal with the issue of creating a special international tribunal to prosecute those guilty of aggression against Ukraine.