The Council of Europe has completed all necessary preparatory stages for the launch of a Special International Tribunal that will investigate crimes committed by the Russian army. This was announced by the organization’s Secretary General, Alain Berse, during a joint press conference with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha.
This is reported by Kyiv24
The need for state support to launch the tribunal
Alain Berse emphasized that a register of damages and a commission for reviewing applications have now been established, enabling effective progress on holding those responsible for Russia’s war crimes accountable. According to him, clear and decisive support from the participating countries is needed for further progress.
“We have a register of damages, and now we also have a commission for reviewing applications. We are making very good progress regarding accountability – in a very specific way and format. What we need now, to strengthen our efforts, is support from the states involved, to ensure that this happens as quickly as possible. Peace and democracy are impossible without accountability. We have funding. What we need now is clear support from the states involved. Nothing happens without a strong commitment from the states. We must make this happen,” he said during the joint press conference with Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha.
The Secretary General emphasized that only through the joint efforts of the Council of Europe and Ukraine can substantial progress be made in holding the guilty parties accountable. He called on heads of state and government to join in supporting the initiative and to raise the level of attention to this issue.
Ukraine’s position and next steps
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha expressed support for the Council of Europe’s initiative and noted that the past year has been groundbreaking in creating the infrastructure to ensure accountability for acts of aggression. According to him, this year should be the year of practical implementation of the developments.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ratified the agreement with the Council of Europe on July 15 for the establishment of a Special Tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression against Ukraine. This agreement was signed on June 25, 2025, in Strasbourg by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berse.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine plans to ensure the start of the Special Tribunal’s work regarding the crime of aggression against Ukraine by the end of 2026.