Eurojust, the European body for judicial cooperation, is preparing to set up an International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression (Cipa). A request from Ukraine to which the European Union gave the green light in early February.
With this center, the Ukrainians won only half a battle, explains our correspondent in The Hague, Stephanie Maupas. kyiv has been pleading for eleven months for a tribunal specifically responsible for trying the perpetrators of Russian aggression against Ukraine, primarily Russian President Vladimir Putin. But despite the intense campaign of lawyers from kyiv, she has still not managed to convince Washington, Paris and London. The three countries fear a precedent which would limit their margin of military action in the future.
In its battle to convince, kyiv saw the creation of an interim prosecutor’s office as a key step for a future special court. But the “centre” approved by the European Union is placed within the strict framework of Eurojust, the organization recalled this morning. The idea is to allow judicial cooperation between countries that would like to judge Russian aggression.
Immunity of directors
The case is far from won. Russian President Vladimir Putin or his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu enjoy executive immunity. Only an international tribunal could judge them. It would still have to be decided to lift the immunity of the leaders. The decision could only be considered legitimate if it garnered broad support from the international community.
In the meantime, Eurojust announced on Thursday that its database dedicated to evidence of crimes committed in Ukraine is now operational. An investigation team bringing together so far seven countries, including Ukraine, has been established. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is also attached to it.