US supports tribunal for Russian war crimes in Ukraine

US State Department's sixth Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice Beth Van Schaack made the statement during the Nuremberg Principles Conference at the Catholic University Of America.

“At this critical moment in history, I am pleased to announce that the United States supports the development of an internationalized tribunal dedicated to prosecuting the crime of aggression against Ukraine.  Although a number of models have been under consideration, and these have been analyzed closely, we believe an internationalized court that is rooted in Ukraine’s judicial system, but that also includes international elements, will provide the clearest path to establishing a new Tribunal and maximizing our chances of achieving meaningful accountability,” the ambassador said.

According to Schaack, the "hybrid tribunal" will involve the involvement of international personnel, the integration of judges, prosecutors, investigators and lawyers. The representative of the State Department suggested that the tribunal could potentially be located somewhere in Europe, at least during the war.

“It might also be located elsewhere in Europe, at least at first, to reinforce Ukraine’s desired European orientation, lend gravitas to the initiative, and enable international involvement, including through Eurojust,” she noted.

The advantage of such a court is that its establishment will not require a resolution of the General Assembly on the creation of a new independent international institution. This would require time and resources.

“This kind of model—an internationalized national court—will facilitate broader cross-regional international support and demonstrate Ukraine’s leadership in ensuring accountability for the crime of aggression,” the sixth US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice said.