We will ensure war criminals end up behind bars
Anyone who grew up against the background of the Cold War will recall the downfall of the Berlin Wall and the opening up of Eastern Europe to freedom and democracy. That is why what is happening in Ukraine today is so heart-breaking. To see Putin try to turn back the clock of history, to use the Russian people in pursuit of his baleful designs, and to inflict savagery and barbarism on the people of Ukraine beggars belief.
Inspired by the indefatigable President Zelensky, it is imperative that the UK uses every tool available to demonstrate our support for Ukraine and to ensure that Putin fails. We must show that the atrocities we see being committed day after day will not be forgotten, that the world will condemn Russia’s clear breaches of international law and that those giving or following illegal orders will be tracked down and held to account. With such actions, Russia threatens the international rules-based order repeatedly and we must do all we can to uphold the rule of law on the international stage by bringing Russia to justice for its crimes in Ukraine.
That is why the UK led efforts to bring together allies to fast-track an International Criminal Court investigation into Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Thirty-eight countries joined the UK in making the largest referral in the history of the ICC. The Deputy Prime Minister, Dominic Raab, a noted war crimes lawyer before going into politics, will be in The Hague tomorrow to discuss the ICC investigation with the court’s prosecutor, Karim Khan QC.
As Attorney General, I have been working with Ukraine’s prosecutor general, Iryna Venediktova, to find out what more we can do to support Ukraine’s journey to justice against Russia. Her fortitude and resilience is incredible to see, and my admiration for her grows with every meeting. This week, I was honoured to sign a joint statement with Iryna which reaffirms the UK Government’s support for Ukraine in its fight to hold Russia accountable for the crimes it is committing on Ukrainian soil.
Russia’s crimes might be tried in the courtrooms of Kyiv, The Hague or even in the UK; but whatever the forum, it is critical to gather the evidence now. The Deputy Prime Minister is leading a special taskforce bringing together the best British expertise from across government, to help the Ukrainians do this as effectively as possible. The evidence is there, the world can see it accruing. Our job now is to collect it, preserve it and use it when the moment comes.
The bravery of ordinary Ukrainians and their families knows no bounds. The joint statement re-states our commitment to helping with the gathering of evidence of crimes which could include crimes against humanity and war crimes. This could include collecting the testimony of Ukrainian refugees who are victims or witnesses of crimes committed during the invasion. It could also include the collection or preservation of documentary evidence, and ultimately the identification and apprehension of suspects. A solid and properly collected evidential basis will help create a firm foundation for future prosecutions. The Met police has already put out a call for testimony from anyone in the UK who may have direct evidence of war crimes in Ukraine.
We have a clear message to Russian leaders and Russian soldiers on the ground in Ukraine: your actions will have consequences and the UK will stand firmly behind Ukraine throughout its journey to justice.
We will always defend the Ukrainian people’s right to choose their own future. They have chosen freedom and justice. And Russia’s war criminals have chosen to be put behind bars.
The British Government is leading the way in ensuring that, when the time comes, Russia’s leaders face the full force of the law