Andriy Smyrnov, the deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential government, said on Thursday that Ukraine believed Russia would be tried separately for their “aggressive act,” with international participation, and that this would accelerate its quest to find the Russian president and his inner circle. to be held accountable. Two Russian attacks in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Thursday killed three people and injured 23, the Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office said.
The Russian invasion – accepted by UN members as an international crime – cannot be tried by the international criminal court due to lack of jurisdiction, but is considered the most serious international crime because of its consequences.
Mr Smyrnov said the act of aggression, for which Ukraine would initiate additional proceedings, was easy to prove, while the types of cases the ICC could try related to Ukraine – war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity – would take years.
He said: “The fact that [Russia] Having invaded Ukraine with their military is a fact accepted by our international partners.
“We hope to have the charges within three months.”
Mr Smyrnov said a verdict by an international tribunal would still lead the way towards justice for Ukraine even without the accused in custody.
Anton Korynevych, Ambassador General to Ukraine, who is leading talks with international partners on the matter, said: “I already have an indictment and a warrant for Putin’s arrest, for [Russia’s defence minister Sergei] Shoigu…will be a great step forward in getting justice.
“They will be claimed and labeled as potential criminals by an international and legitimate tribunal.”
He added: “Then, when she… [travel] to a state that the tribunal recognizes, problems may arise for them.
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However, he said it was too early and too sensitive to name the countries that agreed.
He continued: “Yes, Ukrainians will be involved, it will be necessary to have a Ukrainian prosecutor, but we hope that the judges will be international.”
Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired Ukrainian Attorney General Iryna Venediktova.
In President Zelensky’s overnight address to the nation, he said that Iryna Venediktova and the head of Ukrainian intelligence, Ivan Bakanov, had Russian collaborators in their departments.