Center for investigating war crimes in Ukraine opens in The Hague

In The Hague, the administrative capital of the Netherlands, the “International Center for the Investigation of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA)” started its activities under the umbrella of the European Union Agency for Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters ( eurojust).

The press conference held at the Eurojust headquarters in The Hague was attended by the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Kerim Han, the Minister of Justice of the Netherlands, Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, the General Prosecutor of Ukraine, Andriy Kostin, Eurojust President Ladislav Hamran, European Commission Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders and the US Department of Justice. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite attended.

COLLECT AND PROTECT DOCUMENTS

At the meeting, it was stated that the center, which was established to investigate war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine, started its activities, and it was reported that the task of ICPA is the collection, classification, processing and preservation of information, documents and evidence on the crimes of aggression against Ukraine.

Noting that the establishment of the ICPA is a clear message that the prohibition of the use of force is the foundation of international order, EU Commissioner Reynders said: “The establishment of the ICPA demonstrates the EU’s determination that crimes crimes committed in Russia’s war against Ukraine will not go unpunished,” he said.

Eurojust President Hamran said that they provide operational, technical, logistical and financial support to investigations carried out by many states together: “We have been providing the same support for the investigation of international crimes committed in Ukraine since the beginning of the war”. .”

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Kostin also stated that there are some gaps in the investigation of the crime of aggression and stressed that the ICPA aims to fill this gap. Kostin said that it is inevitable to establish a special court to try the perpetrators of crimes of aggression committed in Ukraine and they are working towards this goal.

ICC Chief Prosecutor Han also drew attention to the importance of cooperation between national prosecutors’ offices and international institutions in terms of accountability. Cortés, Assistant Attorney General of the US Department of Justice, also emphasized that his Department is proud to be part of the ICPA.

Polite stated that the newly appointed Special Assault Crimes Prosecutor, Jessica Kim, will maintain relations with the ICPA on behalf of the US.

THE ICPA MISSION

In a written Eurojust statement, it was stated that the center was established by the gathering of prosecutors, experts and police from various countries.

In the statement, it was noted that ICPA experts will cooperate in collecting and preserving documents and evidence proving that Russia has committed crimes of aggression against Ukraine. By emphasizing that ICPA’s proximity to the international court and other organizations in The Hague is important, the center’s activities will prepare for possible trials in the future.

In the statement, it was shared that all necessary funding for ICPA activities was covered by the EU External Relations Service and an initial fund of €8.3 million was provided. (AA)