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Zelensky Sends Tribunal Pact to Parliament as Russia Denounces Move

Ukraine’s president is urging lawmakers to adopt legislation to enable a Hague-based tribunal to try state aggression; Russia says the move will hinder diplomatic efforts.

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Overview

  • On July 1, Zelensky formally submitted ratification papers to the Verkhovna Rada to enact the June 25 agreement with the Council of Europe, marking the tribunal’s move toward legal reality.
  • The tribunal is designed exclusively to prosecute the crime of aggression, targeting decisions by national leaders to use armed force in violation of the U.N. Charter.
  • Expected to be based in The Hague, the court will include 15 judges and a prosecutorial team elected by member states, with membership open to countries beyond Europe.
  • Supporters say the tribunal fills a gap left by the International Criminal Court and the European Court of Human Rights, both of which lack authority over the crime of aggression.
  • Moscow rejects the tribunal’s legitimacy, contending its timing seeks to derail fragile negotiations and serve Western political interests.