According to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, there is a “reasonable basis” to believe that crimes under the jurisdiction of the Court have been committed since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
Le Monde with AFP
The International Criminal Court Prosecutor announced Wednesday night “the immediate opening of a situation of the situation in Ukraine, where war crimes would be perpetrated, after receiving the green light of 39 States Parties of the ICC.
“I have just notified the ICC Presidency of my decision to immediately open an investigation into the situation” in Ukraine, said the Attorney General, the British Karim Khan, in a statement. “Our proof collection work started.”
Among the countries that have given their green lights: all members of the European Union, but also Australia, Canada, New Zealand or Switzerland. Latin American countries such as Colombia and Costa Rica also gave their downstream.
According to Mr. Khan, there would be a “reasonable basis” – criterion that an investigation may be open to the ICC – to believe that crimes under the jurisdiction of the Court have been committed in Ukraine. The survey will cover all acts committed in Ukraine “since November 21, 2013,” he added.
This would include “all past and present allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide committed throughout the territory of Ukraine by any person,” said the prosecutor.
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m. Khan, who has recently been appointed Prosecutor, assured that his investigation would be conducted “objectively and independent” and that it would aim to “guaranteeing the responsibility of the crimes falling within the competence of the ICC.” Ukraine is not a member, but accepted the court of the Court in 2014.
Moscow withdrew his signature of the Rome Statute, the Founding Treaty of the ICC, which will not be able to reach Russians only if they are arrested in the territory of a State respecting its jurisdiction.
The ICC is also limited by its absence of police force and by the discretion of States to stop suspects present on their soil.
Created in 2002, the ICC, headquartered in The Hague, has been invested as an independent international court to judge individuals accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.