EU ministers in Vilnius plan to discuss a special tribunal to investigate crimes committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine
Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe (CoE) countries will gather on Thursday for an international conference in Vilnius, where they will discuss further steps regarding the creation of a Special Tribunal to investigate Russia’s international crimes in Ukraine. About this informs Lithuanian broadcaster LRT.
According to the notification of the Ministry of Justice of Lithuania, the conference entitled “Towards accountability for international crimes in Ukraine” is one of the key events during Lithuania’s chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The event will take place in the Grand Duke’s Palace in the historical center of Vilnius.
During the conference, the justice ministers of the CE countries will discuss the mechanisms of ensuring criminal liability for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Among the key topics will be the establishment of uniform standards for national investigations, the issue of the quality of the evidence base and the possibility of sentencing in absentia to achieve justice.
The Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law will also be signed at the conference.
About 200 people will take part in the event, including the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Maria Pejchynovych Burych, the President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Theodoros Roussopoulos, the Council Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty, the European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, as well as the Ministers of Justice of the member countries and representatives of Ukraine .
Lithuania heads the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from May 17 to November 13, 2024, after which it will hand over the presidency to Luxembourg. During this period, numerous events are planned in Vilnius and Strasbourg.
