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Ukraine Votes to Join ICC in Pursuit of Justice Against Russia

Wednesday 21 August 2024 - 13:00

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Ukraine’s parliament has voted to join the International Criminal Court (ICC), a move that lawmakers describe as essential for holding suspected Russian war criminals accountable.

On Wednesday, parliament ratified the Rome Statute, paving the way for full ICC membership, with 281 members in favor, according to lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak, who shared the results on Telegram. Only one politician in the 450-member body voted against ratification, as reported by The Kyiv Independent.

The ICC prosecutes serious crimes, including genocide and crimes against humanity, and has the authority to issue arrest warrants that its 124 member states are obliged to execute.

Last year, the court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s children’s ombudsman, for their involvement in the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and Russian-controlled territory. In June, the Hague-based court also issued warrants for former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Valery Gerasimov, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“Ukraine has already worked effectively with the ICC to ensure comprehensive accountability for all Russian atrocities committed during the course of Russian aggression,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on X. “This work will now be even more effective.”

EU Aspirations

Full membership in the ICC also advances Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union. All EU member states are signatories of the Rome Statute, and the bloc has been one of the court’s strongest supporters.

Ukraine signed the Rome Statute in 2000 but had not ratified it, as some political and military figures expressed concerns that Ukrainian soldiers could face prosecution. In June, senior presidential adviser Iryna Mudra described attempts to delay the ratification process as a “disinformation campaign” falsely suggesting that Ukrainian troops would be more vulnerable to prosecution. In an interview, she characterized Kyiv’s bid for ICC membership as “a long journey full of challenges, myths, and fears—none of which have proven true.”

Before the vote, deputies received letters of support from Ukraine’s General Staff and the head of Kyiv’s military intelligence, according to Zhelezniak.

The ratification controversially includes a reference to Article 124 of the Rome Statute, which exempts Ukrainian citizens from prosecution for war crimes for seven years, ruling party politician Yevheniia Kravchuk noted on Facebook.

“The ratification of the Rome Statute will both facilitate greater opportunities for punishing Russians and increase Russia’s isolation,” she stated.