Rau: Most OSCE states support creation of special tribunal to prosecute Russia

02.12.2022 17:12

Ukrinform

Most OSCE participating states support Ukraine's initiative to create a special tribunal to prosecute Russia for the crime of aggression.

"Of course, there is an institutional issue to be solved by the vast majority of the international community. And I can say that there is a consensus on the need for basic principles of justice. As you know, initiatives and even some procedures have been launched to prepare such a tribunal. And I can assure you that the vast majority of OSCE participating states support the creation of such an institution, and many of them are already participating in the collection of evidence and providing legal assistance to Ukraine," Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, incumbent OSCE Chairman-in-Office Zbigniew Rau said at a press conference following the 29th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Łódź, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Poland’s top diplomat said that he is "optimistic about the final result of this initiative to launch such a tribunal."

"There is an institutional problem and a need for consensus of the vast majority of the international community. But I have no doubt that a legal solution will be found," Rau said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, whose country will preside over the OSCE in 2023, pointed to the condemnation of the crimes committed in Ukraine during the Russian aggression and called for justice.

According to him, North Macedonia will provide support in this matter.

As reported, Ukraine took the initiative to create a special tribunal that will prosecute members of the Russian Security Council for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

President Zelensky formed a working group led by the head of his Office, Andriy Yermak, which will deal with the issue of creating a special international tribunal to bring to justice those guilty of the aggression against Ukraine.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly supported the creation of such a tribunal.

Kyiv mulls several options for creating a special tribunal, one of which is based on an agreement between Ukraine and the UN, which may adopt a relevant resolution.