Special tribunal will not prosecute Putin, Lavrov, or Mishustin while they remain in office – Euronews
The special tribunal that Western countries aim to establish to prosecute war crimes committed against Ukraine will not try Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, or Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in absentia as long as they remain in office.
According to Censor.NET, citing Liga.net, this was reported by Euronews.
According to the outlet, these conditions are laid out in the draft treaty that would provide the legal basis for establishing the special tribunal under the auspices of the Council of Europe — a human rights organization based in Strasbourg. While not part of the European Union, the EU is actively involved in the process.
Euronews reports that under the proposed agreement, prosecution of Putin, Mishustin, and Lavrov would only be possible if they are physically present in the courtroom — which is described as "highly unlikely," given that Russia does not recognize the invasion of Ukraine as a crime and remains firmly opposed to cooperation with the West.
As an alternative, the media adds, a trial in absentia may only be conducted once Putin leaves the post of "president" of Russia.
The restriction on trials in absentia is seen as a compromise between participating countries, an anonymous EU official told the outlet.
According to the official, after several months of discussions, this provision has become a "done deal" with little to no chance of being changed before the document is formally presented.
"In the end, this comes down to politics and negotiations," the official said.
He noted that the technical work on the special tribunal was completed at the end of March during a meeting of the Core Group in Strasbourg, which produced three separate documents: a bilateral agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe, the statute of the special tribunal, and an agreement outlining the governance framework of the institution.
The signing is expected to take place in Kyiv on May 9, which coincides with Europe Day, although the exact timing will depend on political approval.
Once Ukraine signs the agreement, the text will be submitted for a vote in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Ratification will require a two-thirds majority — a result that is virtually guaranteed due to the "broad support among member states," according to Euronews.
An unnamed representative of the Council of Europe stated that more than 38 countries have expressed political support for the establishment of the special tribunal, along with the European Union.
According to sources, once ratified, the institution will be based in The Hague, Netherlands, where the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court are already located.
At the same time, the United States did not participate in the Core Group meeting at the end of March, and it remains unclear how President Donald Trump’s push for a peace deal might influence the tribunal proceedings.
Earlier, it was reported that the European Council supports the creation of a Special Tribunal to prosecute those responsible for the crime of aggression committed by Russia against Ukraine — although Hungary has expressed disagreement with parts of the conclusions.
