The current standing of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine - NL Host Nation
The current standing of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine
On Wednesday March 25 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a briefing for the diplomatic corps on the Netherlands’ efforts in pursuit of accountability for Ukraine, including the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.
The tribunal, which is being set up under the umbrella of the Council of Europe, intends to hold Russian leadership accountable for the crime of aggression. During the briefing, representatives of the various Ministry of Foreign Affairs policy departments involved gave presentations on the different tracks being followed in pursuit of justice. The meeting ended with closing remarks by the Ukrainian ambassador to the Netherlands, His Excellency Ambassador Andriy Kostin.
More than four years have passed since Russia began its full-scale invasion, and substantial steps forward have been taken towards achieving accountability. An agreement on the tribunal's establishment has been signed in Strasbourg and an Enlarged Partial Agreement has been negotiated and opened up for signature by states. The Netherlands has made an offer to host the first steps of the tribunal.
The briefing also reflected on the signing of the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine in The Hague in December last year. This development is another step towards the ultimate goal of justice for Ukraine and ensuring Ukraine and its citizens receive compensation for damages.
At the same time it was emphasised that further political support, including from states outside the Council of Europe, remains essential for the successful establishment of both the Claims Commission and the tribunal. Costa Rica, for instance, recently announced that it wished to be one of the tribunal's founding states.
The aim of the briefing was to inform diplomatic representatives about the latest developments, to underline the importance of international cooperation and to encourage states to engage with the initiatives. The Netherlands is endeavouring to play a leading role in this regard.
In his closing remarks, Ambassador Kostin stressed the resilience of the Ukrainian people, the reforms being implemented in his country and the importance of making progress in the tribunal’s establishment, as well as the role of the international community in this regard.
