In its Thursday’s passed resolution the European Parliament (EP) invites forming a special international tribunal to investigate Russian war crimes, as reported by EP representatives in Latvia.
In this resolution the European Union is invited to support the formation of a special international tribunal to punish crimes that are not in the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and bring to justice Russian and its allied political leaders and military commanders.
MEPs also want
the EU to secure all the necessary human and budget resources, as well as administrative, investigation and logistical support to form such a tribunal.
MEPs note that the atrocities reported from Ukraine, including shelling of cities, forced deportations, use of banned munitions, attacks on civilians fleeing the war zone using humanitarian corridors, killing of civilians, sexual violence are all gross violations of international humanitarian law that can be qualified as war crimes, which remain unpunished.
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The passed resolution mentions that EU institutions and member states must take every measure in international courts and procedures to support criminal prosecution of Russian and Belarusian regimes for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and aggression.
Investigations and related criminal proceedings must be extended to the entire personnel of Russian armed forces and members of the government involved in war crimes.
MEPs also stress that quick work is vital, because due to ongoing war there is a risk of evidence of war crimes being destroyed. The European Parliament voices support for the investigation started by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and the work done by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as efforts by independent civil organisations to collect and preserve evidence of war crimes.
MEPs also welcome the joint investigation team composed by Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine the work of which is coordinated by EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation Eurojust.