EU Higher Agent for Overseas Affairs and Security Plan Josep Borrell produced a corresponding assertion on Friday in Brussels through the convention “Joint Steps for Ending Russia’s Impunity and Offering Justice for Victims” and outlined the major locations of the steps.

The comprehensive text of his speech was posted on the web site of the European Exterior Motion Service (EEAS).

“Let me start by praising the resistance demonstrated by the Ukrainian men and women to Russia’s war of aggression. These horrifying atrocities and war crimes are not able to and will not go unpunished. The EU is engaged with Ukraine and global companions to be certain accountability for crimes dedicated in Russia’s war against Ukraine,” the EU Higher Agent reported.

There are three strands to this perform, Borrell noted.

The initial just one is the assist for ICC’s central role in investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity. According to the EU Substantial Representative, individuals who have noticed the horrors of Bucha and in other places know that these are the gravest and darkest of crimes. In this regard, Borrell praised the get the job done of the ICC Chief Prosecutor.

“Secondly, we are furnishing aid to the Office of the Prosecutor Basic of Ukraine, on the selection of proof, education of investigators. We do this as a result of our representation, the EU Advisory Mission Ukraine, Eurojust and the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA),” he famous.

The 3rd spot is the assist for the Ukrainian efforts to guarantee accountability for the criminal offense of aggression. President Zelensky referred to as for the institution of a Exclusive Tribunal for the criminal offense of aggression. The EU believes it is critical that individuals dependable be held accountable and that justice prevails.

The EU, with each other with Ukraine and intercontinental associates, and in complete coherence with the function of the ICC, will do the job to help the institution of a tribunal to investigate and prosecute the criminal offense of aggression. As Borrell noted, this tribunal must have the backing of the UN and the broadest assist of the UN membership. European Fee President Von der Leyen and EU Large Agent for Overseas Affairs and Safety Plan Josep Borrell have previously introduced proposals to this end to EU Member States.   

“One final comment on accountability – money accountability. Russia ought to also shell out for its destruction of Ukraine. To date, EU Member States have frozen roughly 19 billion Euros of assets belonging to Russian oligarchs and some others supporting President Putin. About 300 billion Euros of Russian Central Financial institution reserves have been blocked. Although ‘frozen’ and ‘blocked’ does not necessarily mean ‘confiscated’, we will explore lawful avenues to make guaranteed that Russia pays for the reconstruction of Ukraine,” the EU Substantial Consultant summed up.

As described, alongside with political, money, financial and humanitarian aid, the EU provides realistic and advisory support to Ukraine in the investigation and intercontinental documentation of war crimes and crimes towards humanity dedicated by Russian troops in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine considering the fact that February of this calendar year.

In individual, reps of the EU Advisory Mission to Ukraine, who received these kinds of powers from Brussels, get the job done at criminal offense scenes, a quantity of European nations around the world joined the group investigating these kinds of crimes and despatched their investigators to Ukraine. To aid these types of an investigation and the activities of the ICC, the European Union clarified the legal provisions about the actions of the Eurojust agency, which gained the prospect and suitable assets to accumulate and course of action evidence of crimes fully commited in Ukraine, as perfectly as preserve such evidence and testimonies exterior Ukraine which is now at the stage of energetic hostilities.

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