lThe International Conference “Restoring Justice for Ukraine” was reviewed this Tuesday to the progress in the investigation of war crimes committed in that country since the beginning of the Russian aggression and the way to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
Within the framework of this event, the launch of the Council of Europe's Ukrainian Damage Register took place, which aims to combat impunity and try to obtain compensation for victims.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appears on giant screens as he addresses delegates via video message during an international conference on support for Ukraine in The Hague, Netherlands, April 2, 2024.
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“We met for the first time at this conference (…) almost two years ago. We promised here in The Hague to ensure that those responsible for Russian aggression are held accountable. This promise has led to tangible progress. Take for example the Ukrainian Damage Registry. Less than eighteen months ago, this was just an idea. Today, the registry is fully operational,” Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot said at the event.
Slot explained in a press conference at the end of the conference that only in the first hours since the launch of the registry have they already received more than a hundred complaints.
He also referred to other measures taken, including the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian politician Maria Lvova-Belova for deporting children to Russia, and against two Russian commanders suspected of war crimes.
The Netherlands, Ukraine and the European Commission hold an international conference on the war in Ukraine at the World Forum conference centre. Numerous countries and organizations involved in the investigation and prosecution of (war) crimes were invited to discuss what is needed to further assist Ukraine.
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International conference
The Conference “Restoring Justice for Ukraine”, organized by the European Commission, Ukraine and the Netherlands, brought together representatives from nearly 60 countries.
The objective of the event was to advance the ten point peace plan of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which include expelling Russian forces from Ukrainian territory and bringing those responsible to justice.
According to Ukrainian authorities, more than 120,000 alleged war crimes related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
BBC World: woman in Ukraine
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In addition to the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmitro Kuleba, as well as the Dutch Minister of Justice, Dilan Yesilgöz, and the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, participated.
Kuleba explained in the final press conference that the important thing about the court that judges the crimes committed is not the form, whether it is international or hybrid, but rather that it is capable of judging the troika.
The purpose of the law is to resolve problems facing humanity in a fair manner and if current international legislation does not resolve the problem of bringing a permanent member of the UN Security Council to justice, the law must be changed.
He also pointed out that it would be necessary change the legislation so that it is possible to try a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
“With all my respect for the rule of law (…) The law evolves because the purpose of the law is to resolve problems that humanity faces in a fair manner and if current international legislation does not solve the problem of bringing justice to a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the law must be changed,” said the Ukrainian minister.
Damage log
The Registry of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine (RD4U) announced this Tuesday the official opening of the process of submitting claims, evidence and information for compensation for damages, losses or injuries caused by Russia.
In particular, the launch of the registry focused on one critical category: damage or destruction of residential property.
Between 300,000 and 600,000 claims are expected in this category, the registry itself indicated in a statement.
This photograph taken on April 4, 2024 shows a residential building damaged as a result of a missile attack in Kharkiv, amid the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Russian airstrikes overnight on Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, killed four people and wounded 11, officials said.
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Looking ahead, the same registry plans to launch additional categories, with a particular focus on petitions from people who have been most affected by war, as well as related to damage or destruction of infrastructure criticism of Ukraine.
Prior to the official launch, the conference of participants of that registry established the rules for submission and processing and the list of eligible claim categories.
The Executive Director of the Ukrainian Damage Registry, Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi, explained in a statement that claims will soon begin to arrive and specified that this is “just the beginning.”
“Our focus now shifts to strengthening the RD4U's ability to receive and process claims“said Kliuchkovskyi.
Claims will be submitted through the Ukrainian digital system Diia, a mobile application and web portal trusted by 20 million Ukrainians.
EFE
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