Russian leader Vladimir Putin must face trial in the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his crimes against Ukraine, the deputy mayor of The Hague, Mariëlle Vavie, told UkrInform during a rally in support of Ukraine on the second anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
In March 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Putin and Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of war crimes related to the deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children.
The issued order stipulates that they must be arrested and brought to the ICC if they enter the territory of any of the 123 countries worldwide that have ratified the Rome Statute. That means that two-thirds of the world has become closed to the Russian president’s travels.
“Putin must be brought to The Hague and face trial to restore justice for Ukrainians. The path to justice and accountability is long. It requires us to work together and support each other, as we do today on this day of remembrance.
Let’s be honest: two years of war is a very long time, and maintaining a positive mood is challenging. But we need to hope for peace and stand in solidarity with Ukraine,” said Vavier.
The deputy mayor added that Putin must be held accountable for his crimes in The Hague because the city symbolizes peace and justice. Vavier also said that The Hague has provided refuge for over 3,000 Ukrainian refugees since the beginning of Russia’s all-out war.
In 2023, another institution for investigation of Russian crimes in Ukraine was established in The Hague – the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine (ICPA). Recently, the US announced it would provide $1 million to the center.
US pledges $ 1 mn to International investigation of Russian aggression against Ukraine
The ICPA is integrated within Eurojust, which supports investigations into the Russian crime of aggression against Ukraine. The center is a platform where independent prosecutors from different countries will swiftly exchange evidence and create an efficient prosecution strategy to hold accountable those responsible for crimes committed in Ukraine.
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