Ewelina Dobrowolska: Special Tribunal for those responsible for the military aggression against Ukraine will become a model in ensuring the operation of international law in the future
On 5 September 5th, under the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Vilnius is hosting one of the most important events of the Lithuanian Presidency – a High-Level Conference of the Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe “Towards Accountability for International Crimes Committed in Ukraine”.
The discussions during the event focus on the challenges and the search for potential solutions to ensure a common standard of the national investigations undertaken by countries, the quality and assessment of evidence, and the potential of judgments in absentia to contribute effectively to the securing of justice.
Welcoming remarks were made by:
- Ms Ewelina Dobrowolska, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania;
- Ms Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe;
- Mr Lukas Savickas, Member of the Lithuanian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on behalf of the PACE President Mr Theodoros Rousopoulos;
- Ms Liudmyla Suhak, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine for European Integration (Online);
- Ms Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency.
The conference sessions were moderated by:
- Ms Ewelina Dobrowolska, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania;
- Ms Gabija Grigaitė-Daugirdė, Vice-Minister of Justice of Republic of Lithuania.
Minister of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania Ewelina Dobrowolska stressed during the Conference that the Special Tribunal for those responsible for the military aggression against Ukraine will become a model in ensuring the operation of international law in the future.
“After the beginning of the military aggression against Ukraine, Lithuania was the first to address the International Criminal Court with a request to open an investigation into the international crimes committed by russia in Ukraine. The arrest warrants issued for the perpetrators of war crimes, including Putin, show that international criminal justice cannot wait. The Vilnius Conference is a unique international platform to reaffirm the commitment of the countries to uphold the principles of international law and human rights and not appease the aggressor by rolling out the red carpet, as Mongolia has done, rather than arresting him” said Ms Dobrowolska.
Last year, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin on the charges of war crimes for illegally deporting hundreds of Ukrainian children since the unprovoked, large-scale military aggression against Ukraine began in February 2022.
Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, emphasised during the Conference that, in order to make sure that decisions on the next steps towards the establishment of the international Special Tribunal are as effective as possible, it is important today to find a consensus that will enable international law to operate.
According to Petro Beshta, Ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania, russia has never faced any accountability for the atrocities it has committed and it is therefore convinced that accountability can be avoided.
The Treaty Signing Ceremony was held at the event – Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law.
Ministers of Justice of the Member States and Observer States of the Council of Europe also has joined the Declaration reaffirming their strong commitment to support Ukraine, to ensure justice and international law, and russia's obligation to accept the legal consequences, including reparation, of all its international unlawful acts in or against Ukraine.
Declaration of the Ministers of Justice oh the Council of Europe.
The following countries joined this declaration: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America.
High-Level Conference of the Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe is one of the most important events of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The Conference hosts the Ministers of Justice of the Member States and Observer States of the Council of Europe, as well as other invited guests.
Lithuania's Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe runs from 17 May to 13 November and focuses on support for Ukraine.
The Video of the Conference is available here.
The Video of the Handshake Ceremony is available here.
Photos of the Conference is available here.
Last updated: 06-09-2024
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Press Conference on the occasion of the High-Level Conference of the Ministers of Justice