Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office and International Criminal Court to create joint groups to investigate war crimes
The International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Office of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General will create joint working groups to investigate specific criminal cases related to war crimes, the materials of which Ukraine will be able to later transfer to the ICC.
Source: Interfax-Ukraine, with reference to Andrii Kostin, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, during the second United for Justice conference dedicated to crimes of genocide.
Quote: "Today we heard unprecedented support from our partners... We agreed a few days ago [with ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan – ed.] and jointly announced today that we will create working groups [task forces] on specific criminal proceedings that we as Ukraine will be ready to refer to the International Criminal Court."
Details: Kostin noted that the case in which Russian President Vladimir Putin was recognized as a suspect and an arrest warrant was issued for him is a case in which "the International Criminal Court plays a complementary role".
The Ukrainian law enforcement system is able to investigate and prosecute all war crimes, but due to the fact that Putin has personal immunity as the head of state, Ukraine cannot inform him of the suspicion.
Background:
- On 17 March, the Pre-trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court issued warrants for the arrest of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children's Affairs, Maria Lvova-Belova.
- Putin and Lvova-Belova are suspected of committing the war crime of illegal deportation and transfer of children from the occupied regions of Ukraine to the Russian Federation, taking place at least since 24 February, 2022.
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