FT: Ukraine And The Council Of Europe Have Moved Closer To A Military Tribunal For Putin
- 25.06.2025, 14:53
A key document could be signed as early as today.
Ukraine will create a military court jointly with the Council of Europe. As Financial Times reports, Ukraine and the Council of Europe are preparing to sign a historic agreement to create a special international tribunal.
It aims to prosecute senior Russian officials, including Putin, for launching a full-scale war against Ukraine, military atrocities by Russian soldiers and massive violations of international humanitarian law.
President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to sign the document today with Alan Berset, the head of the Council of Europe's Council for Human Rights. That Strasbourg-based body expelled Russia from its ranks shortly after the invasion began.
The entire Putin regime
"Everyone will be held accountable, including the president, prime minister, foreign minister and other senior officials. This is crucial for the restoration of international law and order," Ukraine's deputy prime minister, Olga Stefanyshina, told the FT.
The Council of Europe has confirmed that the tribunal will have the power to bring cases against sitting heads of state, but arrests and trials will only begin after they leave office.
The tribunal will, however, already begin collecting evidence on the basis of which warrants could later be issued.
More than 34,000 episodes have been recorded
A special damage register created with the support of the Council of Europe has already collected more than 34,000 pieces of evidence of crimes ranging from the deaths of civilians to the destruction of civilian infrastructure, torture, sexual violence and forced displacement. All this material could form the basis of future charges.
Bombings, robberies, rapes - all of these are subject to trial
Russia during its invasion of Ukraine systematically struck civilian targets: residential neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, energy infrastructure.
Along with this, mass executions, looting, cases of sexual violence and torture in the occupied territories were recorded. These actions are qualified as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
From Hitler to Milosevic - now Putin
The establishment of a special tribunal may become one of the most high-profile trials of the 21st century. World practice knows many examples when leaders of states have found themselves in the dock.
From the Nuremberg trials against Nazi criminals to the trial of Slobodan Milosevic, who is known for the genocide in Yugoslavia. Now it is the turn of Putin and his regime.