Thirty-four European countries, together with Australia, Costa Rica, and the European Union, have announced that they will join a special tribunal for Ukraine aimed at prosecuting Russia for the invasion launched in 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an agreement last year with the Council of Europe to establish a legal body that will address the “crime of aggression” related to the war in Ukraine.
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, composed of foreign ministers from 46 member states, adopted a resolution laying the groundwork for the future tribunal.
According to the official statement, 34 Council of Europe member states, along with the European Union as an institution, Australia, and Costa Rica, have “expressed their intention” to join the agreement establishing the tribunal.
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset said that “the time for Russia to be held accountable for its aggression is rapidly approaching.”
“The special tribunal represents justice and hope. Now action must be taken to follow through on this political commitment by ensuring the tribunal becomes operational and properly funded,” he said.
Among the Council of Europe members are the 27 EU states, as well as non-EU countries such as Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine.
Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe in 2022 following the start of its invasion of Ukraine.
