EU supports automatic liability for Russia’s war crimes against Ukraine - Kallas
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas has stated the need for automatic responsibility for the crimes of the Russian leadership and war crimes against Ukrainians, emphasizing the importance of justice and support for Ukraine.
She said this on Tuesday in Strasbourg during a plenary session of the European Parliament, Censor.NET reports citing Interfax-Ukraine.
"It is clear that responsibility for crimes of aggression, that is, crimes of leadership, when someone decides to attack another country, as well as war crimes, should be more automatic," Kallas said.
Kallas emphasized that one of the main challenges is the impunity that used to be possible. Thanks to modern technology, such as photographs, phone records, and radio transcripts, it is now impossible to deny that crimes have been committed. She emphasized the importance of collecting evidence, including documented cases of forced displacement and deportation of Ukrainian children, which are among the most serious human rights violations.
"The number of crimes committed in this war is simply unsurpassed," she emphasized.
The EU High Representative also said that the birth rate in Ukraine has dropped by 30% as a result of the war, emphasizing how devastating the war is for the country's future. She also mentioned the EU sanctions against more than 70 people responsible for the deportation of children from Ukraine.
"Russia's campaign against human life and dignity truly has no limits. We also see this in reports of enforced disappearances, torture, extrajudicial executions, sexual violence against civilian prisoners and prisoners of war by Russian armed forces in the occupied territories," said Kallas.
Kallas also reiterated the EU's support for the establishment of a special tribunal to investigate the crime of Russian aggression and its support for Ukraine in its quest for justice. She noted that the EU is actively assisting in the investigation of more than 117,000 criminal cases in Ukraine.
"That is why the EU also supports the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine by strengthening its capacity to investigate and prosecute international crimes committed in Ukraine, including through the EU Civilian Advisory Mission. And with regard to the specific crime of aggression, the EU is working to establish a special tribunal," Kallas said.
