World Leaders Advocate for Special Tribunal on Russian Aggression

Forty world leaders have come forward to back the formation of a new international court dedicated to prosecuting the masterminds behind Russia's comprehensive invasion of Ukraine. The proposed tribunal would specifically target top Russian officials for the crime of aggression, a serious offense that Ukraine claims underlines numerous war crimes committed since the onset of the conflict in 2022.

As Russia is not a participant in the International Criminal Court (ICC), there's an obstacle to prosecuting figures like Russian President Vladimir Putin. Thus, Ukrainian and European leaders have opted for this specialized court to hold Russian leaders accountable effectively. This initiative, stemming from a joint accord between Ukraine and the Council of Europe, aims to establish justice beyond conventional war crimes prosecution.

Countries supporting this tribunal, including the Netherlands, Japan, and Canada, will provide funding. Although the concept found backing from the US under former President Biden, it received no support during President Trump's tenure. The tribunal may operate from The Hague, leveraging existing infrastructure, and is expected to begin its trials as early as next year, potentially including high-ranking officials like Putin, subject to specific legal restrictions.

(With inputs from agencies.)