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ICC Office of the Prosecutor Will Investigate Russian War Crimes in Ukraine

Representatives of the Office of the ICC Prosecutor General during a joint online meeting with the members of the Joint Investigation Team / Photo credit: Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine
Representatives of the Office of the ICC Prosecutor General during a joint online meeting with the members of the Joint Investigation Team / Photo credit: Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine

Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is now a participant of the Joint Investigation Team on alleged core international crimes in Ukraine

The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague will join the investigation team initiated by Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland. The relevant statement was published by the Eurojust justice agency on April 25.

The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) consists of General Prosectors of Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland. Now it will be joined by ICC Prosecutor's Office and the ICC Gen. Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan QC himself. The Office will help to investigate alleged core international crimes committed in Ukraine during the russian invasion, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression.

Read more: Chronicle of the Russian Federation Crimes in Ukraine (February-April)

"This is the first time ever the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the ICC participates in such an investigative group. The agreement signed today is a "clear message that all efforts will be undertaken to effectively gather evidence on core international crimes committed in Ukraine and bring those responsible to justice," the Eurojust agency wrote in a press release.

Joint Investigation Team was established on 25 March on the Eurojust platform by Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine amid the russian invasion of Ukraine. The main function is to collect, preserve and swiftly exchange information and proof of the war crimes committed by the russian federation during the investigations on the territories of participating states, says the statement by the Office of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General.

Defense Express / Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova during the joint online meeting with the members of the Joint Investigation Team / ICC Office of the Prosecutor Will Investigate Russian War Crimes in Ukraine
Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova during the joint online meeting with the members of the Joint Investigation Team and the ICC Gen. Prosecutor's Office/ Photo credit: Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine

"I'm sure the accession of another powerful participant will make the investigation and prosecution of war crimes and crimes against humanity more effective and coordinated," Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova said in a relevant statement. "Justice for the victims and punishment for the guilty is the challenge for the entire legal front, and our investigation group stood in the vanguard."

According to Eurojust, the agreement with the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC will enable rapid and real-time coordination and cooperation with the JIT partner countries, in connection with investigations conducted by the OTP and competent national authorities.

Defense Exress / The joint online meeting of the members of the Joint Investigation Team with ICC Gen. Prosecutor's Office / ICC Office of the Prosecutor Will Investigate Russian War Crimes in Ukraine
The joint online meeting of the members of the Joint Investigation Team with ICC Gen. Prosecutor's Office / Photo credit: Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine

As Defense Express reported, ICC General Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan QC has been involved in the investigation of russia war crimes in Ukraine since February 28, when he launched the process in the International Criminal Court. He has visited Ukraine twice, including the visit to Bucha city, where the atrocities of russian army were first revealed to the public.

Ukrainian cooperation with partners does not end on investigation of war crimes but also other sorts of help, including the information Ukraine receives from partners, such as the recent news from Bellingcat investigative journalist Christo Grozev that russia has used about 70% of its high-precision missiles against Ukraine since the start of the invasion. And also military aid, such as the recent $ 800 million worth package from the United States which involved multiple states in support of Ukraine, or the heavy weaponry support from the UK.

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