36 Countries Approve Tribunal to Prosecute Russia Over Ukraine
36 countries have agreed to create a special court for Ukraine. The group includes 34 European states plus Australia and Costa Rica.
The European Union also joined as its own member. The court would let Ukraine prosecute Russia for starting the invasion.
It will be based in The Hague, Netherlands. The existing International Criminal Court cannot prosecute Russia for launching the invasion.
This new tribunal fills that legal gap. But the tribunal's rules stop charges against sitting heads of state. So Russian President Vladimir Putin and his top ministers cannot be tried while still in power.
Klear Note — The International Criminal Court cannot prosecute countries for starting wars. This new tribunal fills that legal gap for Ukraine's case.
Key Terms 4
- tribunal A special court set up to judge a specific type of crime
- crime of aggression The crime of starting an illegal war against another country
- International Criminal Court A permanent world court based in The Hague that tries war crimes
- The Hague A city in the Netherlands that hosts major international courts