Council of Europe Defines Principles For Russia To Be Punished And Compensate For Losses
- 12.09.2023, 9:33
The decision was developed by the ministers of justice of several dozen countries.
The Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe member and observer states have defined principles for punishing the Russian Federation and compensating the Ukrainian losses. To do this, it is necessary to create a Register of Damage, as well as conduct an investigation into crimes of the Russian Federation. The steps developed were called the Riga Principles (the meeting took place in Riga on September 11).
The Council of Europe announced it on its website. «Obozrevatel» reports. There are the following regulations among the Riga Principles:
The Register of Damage for Ukraine. It should focus on victims and vulnerable groups (women and children). Assistance from the Ukrainian authorities is needed to create and coordinate the register. Ministers recalled the importance of the Register of Damage as the first step to ensure that Russia will pay for the damage it has caused in Ukraine through its unlawful war. The work of the Register, including its digital platform with all data about claims and evidence recorded, is intended to constitute the first component of a future international compensation mechanism. “This will help ensure full and effective reparation for Ukraine and the victims through a separate international instrument to be established in cooperation with Ukraine.,” the message reads.
All Russia’s crimes must be investigated. “All allegations of crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, must be fully investigated and, where warranted, prosecuted at national and international levels in order that those responsible are held accountable for their actions,” the message reads. Justice must be served for all victims and with the purpose of deterring future war crimes.
“To that end, we support the investigations and evidence gathering efforts conducted by the Ukrainian authorities, other national authorities and the Prosecutor of the ICC,” said the ministers in their declaration.
In this respect, they underlined the significance of the ICC Prosecutor’s arrest warrants in connection with the alleged war crimes of unlawful deportation and transfer of children from or to the temporarily controlled or occupied areas of Ukraine. They condemned in the strongest terms their forcible placement under custody or adoption by Russian citizens, and violations of their dignity and rights. They also called on all relevant stakeholders, including international organizations continuing their work in the Russian Federation and Belarus, to actively participate in identifying the current locations of the unlawfully deported and transferred Ukrainian children and to provide assistance for their safe return.
The Council of Europe will continue to support the effective implementation of the Action Plan for Ukraine entitled “Resilience, Recovery, and Reconstruction for the period 2023-2026”.
Recall that earlier it became known that the United States wanted to transfer $1 billion of confiscated assets of the Russian Federation to Ukraine. The US Department of Justice is looking for opportunities to send this money to Ukraine. The US Department of Justice needs Congress to grant it powers that “will allow the seized funds to be used for the benefit of the Ukrainian people.”
And on September 5, Germany reported on new supplies of military aid to Ukraine. It included the first batch of new shells for the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.