In an address at the Council of Europe Ministers of Justice informal conference ‘On the Path to Justice for Ukraine’ in Riga, Latvia, today, PACE President Tiny Kox emphasised the urgent need for justice and accountability in Ukraine. “It is our obligation to restore the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Ukraine and to fully address the consequences of Russian aggression, and justice for the victims will be done,” he said.
Mr Kox underlined that the creation of the international register of damage is only “the first step in the process of accountability for violations of international law arising from the Russian aggression.” He reminded participants that the Assembly proposed the establishment of an international compensation commission “to review and adjudicate the claims submitted and documented by the register, and that compensation awards would then be paid to successful claimants from a future compensation fund”.
The PACE President called on the Council of Europe “to play a leading role in setting up and managing this compensation mechanism”, drawing on its expertise in delivering justice and compensation for human rights violations.
He also urged the Ministers “to build upon the success of the creation of the Registry” and use the work done by the Assembly to ensure that the Registry will be “the foundation upon which other international institutions delivering justice to Ukraine and Ukrainian people will be built”. This also includes the setting up of an ad hoc tribunal on the crime of aggression.
In closing, Mr Kox affirmed that justice and accountability will be delivered by standing united with Ukraine. “The Assembly has and will always speak in support of developing and ensuring the effective functioning of a comprehensive system of justice for Ukraine, and we will support the work of the Register as a first step to achieving that goal.”
