President Zelensky calls on EP to create Special Tribunal for Russia as soon as possible

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his online speech at the awarding ceremony of the 2022 Sakharov Prize, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“It is necessary to act now – without waiting for the end of the war – to hold to account all those who started it, and to prevent any repetition of aggression. This will be the most effective protection of freedom, human rights, the rule of law and other common values of ours, which are embodied, in particular, by this award of the European Parliament – the Sakharov Prize,” Zelensky said.

He expressed gratitude to everyone who investigates and helps investigate the crimes of Russian invaders in Ukraine, who is looking for information about Russian murderers and terrorists, as well as the International Criminal Court that closely cooperates with Ukrainian prosecutors and has a clear intention to ensure justice for what Russian troops committed on the territory of Ukraine.

Additionally, Zelensky thanked the leaders and states, all the politicians and international organizations, who are working together with Ukraine and are making every possible effort to create a tribunal for Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine.

“I call on all of you, your parties and states to effectively support this work! The tribunal must start working,” the President of Ukraine stressed.

In his words, the European Parliament has already supported this idea, but it is necessary to turn it into reality as soon as possible, namely through the adoption of a separate resolution in support of the creation of the Tribunal, through the support of MEPs and their countries for the corresponding resolution of the UN General Assembly.

According to Zelensky, the cities and villages destroyed by Russia, destroyed destinies, broken and executed lives should be reflected in the sentences not only for those who directly committed all this, but also in the sentences for those who organized and started this aggression.

“And when the principle of the inevitability of punishment works for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, we will be able to make the corresponding institutional basis of justice permanently effective. When any potential aggressor knows that punishment for criminal war is inevitable, it will be the most effective tool for war prevention,” the President of Ukraine emphasized.

A reminder that Ukraine initiated the establishment of a Special Tribunal to bring the Russian leadership to justice over the crime of aggression against the state of Ukraine.

Photo, video: Office of the President of Ukraine

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