European Parliament demands justice and responsibility for victims in Ukraine – resolution
The European Parliament supported a resolution in which it condemned the brutal and deliberate Russia strikes on civilian targets in Ukraine, demanding responsibility for the crimes committed.
The corresponding resolution was voted on Thursday in Strasbourg as part of a plenary session of the European Parliament with 446 votes in favor, 63 votes against, and 52 abstentions, the European Parliament press service reports.
Having stated that Russia is carrying out systematic attacks on residential areas, energy facilities, hospitals, and other vital services of Ukraine, MEPs called on Russia to stop these strikes. "The Parliament declares that Russia’s war of aggression is a flagrant violation of international law, and that the leaders of Russia and its allies must be held responsible for their role in the crime of aggression, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other international crimes. MEPs express their strong support for the creation and rapid implementation of a Special Tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression against Ukraine and call on all EU member states to join it," the document says.
The resolution notes that "accountability must extend to everyone who may direct crimes or contribute to their commission, including high-ranking political, military, and judicial figures, such as members of the Russian State Duma or the Constitutional Court of the country."
MEPs also expressed full support for the investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide committed in Ukraine, and remind EU member states of their obligation under the Rome Statute to arrest and hand over persons for whom ICC arrest warrants have been issued on their territory.
MEPs, positively assessing the adoption of the 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia, expressed the conviction that restrictive measures "should not be lifted until a peace agreement is agreed upon and fully implemented". "Calling on the EU to stop the circumvention of sanctions, MEPs also ask the European Commission and EU member states to strictly apply EU sanctions against Russia, which should be expanded to cover all persons and organizations whose decisions allowed or contributed to the commission of serious crimes against Ukrainians," the message says.
In addition, the European Parliament approved the creation of the International Claims Commission for Ukraine with 465 votes in favor, 57 against, and 47 abstentions in order to ensure compensation for civilian victims during the war.
After the European Parliament gives its consent, the EU Council can now adopt a decision on the conclusion of the convention on behalf of the EU, and the Claims Commission will be established within the framework of the 135th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Chisinau on May 14.
