Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD) has commenced a criminal procedure over the war crimes and crime against humanity and peace in Ukraine committed by Russian armed forces, as confirmed by VDD.
The criminal procedure was commenced in accordance with three sections of the Criminal Law: on crimes against humanity, crimes against peace and war crimes.
Evidence of crimes committed by Russian armed forces against humanity, including killings of civilians, extermination, torture and other crimes, crimes against peace – planning of aggression, preparation and execution, participation in it and waging of an aggressive war, as well as war crimes – unjustified destruction of cities or other infrastructure and other violation of humanitarian rights.
In accordance with the aforementioned, VDD urges war refugees who have suffered from Russian armed forces or were eye witnesses to attacks carried out by Russian forces against civilians or civilian infrastructure to turn to the service.
VDD especially calls out to people who have photo, video or audio footage of aforementioned acts. Latvian citizens who have suffered from criminal acts committed by Russian military in Ukraine are also urged to reach out to the service.
Eye witnesses to crimes committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine are invited to contact VDD by e-mail (ukraina@vdd.gov.lv) or by phone (67208964). It is also possible to sign up for an interview by contacting Latvian State Border Guard at any refugee support centre.
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Additionally VDD has prepared information materials for war refugees. In those materials there is information in regards to the cases in which it is important to provide testimonies and how it can be done. Informative materials will be available at all refugee support centres across Latvia.
As previously reported, Latvian office of the prosecutor plans to compile and send to investigators at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague testimonies from Ukrainian war refugees in Latvia about war crimes committed by Russia.
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has invited those affected by the war in Ukraine to provide testimony about the situation there. Latvia’s President Egils Levits has asked law enforcement officials to create a system that would allow the collection and compilation of testimonies from Ukrainian refugees about Russia’s war crimes.
Hague-based ICC has commenced an investigation of possible war crimes based on an international collective lawsuit against Russia. 39 countries are on board. Recently ICC has sent a group of experts to Ukraine.
Several European countries, including Lithuania, have commenced investigations of war crimes committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine.
On 24 February Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an order to armed forces to commence an attack or «military operation» in Ukraine. Initially Russian armed forces performed attacks on military objects, but later reports were received of strikes on populated areas.
Latvia commences criminal procedure over crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine
