After victory, we will "catch up" with every Russian Federation war criminal – Reznikov

IRYNA BALACHUK – SATURDAY, 13 AUGUST 2022, 10:55

Oleksiy Reznikov, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, has stated that Russian responsibility for war crimes will be inescapable, and is asking the countries participating in the Ukraine Defence Contact Group – the "Rammstein" format – to delegate military justice experts and war crimes specialists to help Ukraine punish Russian criminals.

Source: Reznikov on Facebook

Quote from the Defence Minister: "I have no doubts that after the victory of Ukraine in this war, we will in one way or another "catch up" with each of those involved in the barbaric killings and atrocities. Representatives of the defence forces of Ukraine have repeatedly and very clearly expressed themselves on this matter. Sooner or later, this will happen.

At the same time, our response should be not only principled, but also systematic. An important component of combating war crimes should be the demonstration that the punishment will be inevitable and not limited in time."

Details: Reznikov said that firstly this concerns not only the rank-and-file perpetrators, but the persons who give orders, and who encourage or justify crimes.

He also added that no-one has annulled the responsibility of those who sow lies and hatred.

Reznikov stressed that the brutal mass murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war by the Russians in Olenivka again showed the criminal nature and inhuman character of everything that the Kremlin is trying to bring to Ukrainian soil.

The Minister of Defence added that for bringing the occupiers to justice to become a reality, a system of legal measures to respond to war crimes, which Europe has not seen for 80 years, must be created. One which would contain elements that may not be fully covered by the current rules of law.

Reznikov is convinced that bringing criminals to justice should become part of the joint efforts of the international coalition that opposes Russian aggression.

Therefore, he initiated an appeal through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the participating countries of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group with a request to delegate military justice experts and war crimes specialists.

The purpose of such an appeal is to form international groups that will help with work on specific cases of Russian war crimes in Ukraine, as well as analyse the practical aspects of punishment for war crimes committed during a war which contains many hybrid elements.

Reznikov also added that he has already appealed to the President of the European Court of Human Rights, Robert Spano, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regarding the need to interpret Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, taking into account the current conditions and circumstances of Russia's terrible crimes against Ukrainian prisoners of war.

"Russia is being repulsed on the battlefield, and rebuffed in the information, economic, and energy spheres. The legal front must send a clear signal to the Kremlin and all those involved in the aggression against Ukraine that it will not be possible to slip away or hide," the defence minister concluded.

Background:

• The day before, the Defence Forces of Ukraine released a joint statement to draw the world's attention to the situation of Ukrainian prisoners of war, primarily the defenders of Mariupol, against whom the Russian authorities are preparing a so-called "trial" in violation of all laws, rules and customs of warfare.

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