By Ben Kerrigan-
Over 50 former world leaders have signed a proposal to create an international tribunal to try Vladimir Putin and those accountable for the war in Ukraine for the crime of aggression, campaign organizers said today as evidence emerged of murders of civilians under Russian occupation.
The Justice for Ukraine campaign is calling for an ad-hoc tribunal to fill gaps in the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which Russia left in 2016. A trial, similar to the Nuremberg proceedings, would act in addition to the current investigations into war crimes by the ICC.
The international criminal court (ICC), which is the world’s first permanent war crimes tribunal, has defined the war in Ukraine as “grave breaches” of the Geneva Conventions, a set of humanitarian laws to be observed in war.
The move allows the ICC’s prosecutor to proceed straight to investigation without the need for judicial approval. Russia has continued to deny culpability for the terrible war crimes committed by Putin’s regime.
Among those supporters are former prime ministers Gordon Brown and John Major. They are joined by former heads of government across Europe and the Americas along with some Asian and African countries. Almost 1.5 million people from around the globe have signed a petition calling for the creation of the tribunal.
Foreign Office minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon told parliament yesterday confirmed to the British government was focusing on bringing potential cases to the ICC and was not looking at the creation of a bespoke tribunal for Ukraine.
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute yesterday welcomed what it said was the UN Human Rights Council’s response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
It will include an independent international commission of inquiry to investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law.
The resumed call for Russia to be held to account for war crimes follows the recent mayor of a village in Ukraine was kidnapped and executed by Russian troops along with her husband and son.
The bodies of Olha Sukhenko, her husband Igor and their son, Alexander, were found in a shallow grave behind buildings housing Russian soldiers.
They had been thrown into a pit in woodland outside the village of Motyzhyn, 30 miles west of Kyiv, after being shot at close range, according to reports.
They were reportedly taken captive on March 23 after refusing to collaborate with Russian forces.
Ms Sukhenko’s body showed signs of torture, with broken arms and fingers. Her husband reportedly said he had his hands behind his back and a piece of plastic wrapped around his eyes like a blindfold.
The horrific murder made headlines on the news and has highlighted the extend of Putin’s crimes.