In a statement, Parliamentary Assembly President Theodoros Rousopoulos has reacted to recent missile strikes in Ukraine, and again urged the speedy creation of a special tribunal to try Russia's political and military leadership for the crime of aggression.
"In recent days and nights, indiscriminate Russian attacks on manifestly civilian targets in Ukraine have intensified, with horrible missile strikes on Poltava, Kryvyi Rig, Sumy, Lviv and other cities. Educational institutions, hospitals, residential buildings and historic monuments have been targeted and destroyed, and dozens of innocent people, among whom are many women and children, have been killed. Human tragedies continue and intensify. These actions are not just appalling but are clear war crimes that add to an already extremely long list of atrocities committed by the Russian Federation in and against Ukraine.
I wish to strongly voice my solidarity with the victims, their friends and families, and with the entire Ukrainian people who resiliently and bravely continue to fight the aggressor. I will not stop repeating that we must never accept this war as normality. We must stay focused and motivated on doing everything within our power to bring peace to Ukraine. However not just any peace at any cost, but a peace based on justice and respect for the rule of law. A peace that restores the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Ukraine, a peace that fully addresses the consequences of the Russian aggression. A peace that delivers justice to all the victims.
Tomorrow, the Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe member states will gather in Vilnius in Lithuania to discuss the issue of accountability for international crimes committed in Ukraine. I strongly urge them to step up efforts aimed at the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression, to hold to account the leadership of the Russian Federation for what has been rightly called the 'crime of crimes': starting a war, which brings unspeakable suffering and misery to soldiers and civilians alike.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has been crystal clear on this subject. A special tribunal, created by an agreement between the Council of Europe and Ukraine and supported by an enlarged partial agreement open to non-member states and other international organisations, is now the best and most feasible option, in terms of legal basis and political legitimacy, for trying Russia's political and military leadership for the crime of aggression. The Assembly invites and urges the Core Group to maintain the momentum towards the speedy establishment of such a tribunal, and we do hope that the conference in Vilnius tomorrow will give a strong impetus to the Committee of Ministers to move quickly on setting up the necessary legal framework for this key body.
This is our duty and responsibility. Ukraine needs our support and our help now. We stand with Ukraine!"
