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Thirty-six countries have formally joined a landmark initiative to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, aimed at holding Russia’s leadership accountable for the 2022 invasion.
The tribunal, which will be based in The Hague, Netherlands, is being created under the framework of the Council of Europe and is intended to prosecute senior Russian political and military officials accused of planning and directing the invasion.
The countries that signed up are:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
In addition, Australia and Costa Rica joined as non-European supporting countries, while the European Union also backed the initiative.
Possible prosecutions
Potential defendants could include senior Russian military officials such as Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff; Sergey Kobylash, Commander of Russian Air Force units; and Sergei Shoigu, a senior security official.
Officials from Belarus and North Korea who are alleged to have supported Russia’s military campaign may also face investigation or prosecution.
Tribunal powers and penalties
If established, the tribunal could impose severe penalties on those convicted, including life imprisonment, asset confiscation, and financial sanctions. Some of these funds may be directed toward compensation for victims of the war in Ukraine.
Political reaction
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said accountability is essential for lasting peace, stating:
“There will be no just and lasting peace in Ukraine without accountability for Russia and the perpetrators of the horrific crimes committed against the people of Ukraine.”
She added that Russia must be held responsible for invading a sovereign country, killing civilians, deporting Ukrainian children, and occupying territory.
Significance
The tribunal is widely seen as a major step in international justice, focusing specifically on the crime of aggression, which existing courts like the International Criminal Court cannot fully prosecute in this case.
However, legal experts note that enforcement will depend on international cooperation, and arresting top leaders remains difficult while they remain in power.
