Ukraine will officially become the 125th state party to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on January 1, 2025, after the ratification of the Rome Statute was deposited in New York. About this reported press service of the Office of the President.
Deputy Head of the Office of the President Iryna Mudra and Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Serhii Kyslytsia completed the official process by submitting the ratification document, which marks the full accession of Ukraine to the ISS from the beginning of next year.
“This is a landmark event for Ukraine. We have completed the lengthy process of ratifying this important instrument and are finally fully involved in the work of the world’s key criminal justice body“, Iryna Mudra noted.
The process of Ukraine joining the ISS began back in 2000, when the Rome Statute was signed. However, only on August 21, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada approved the ratification, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyi signed the law, which allowed to complete the process of joining the court.
The Rome Statute, on the basis of which the International Criminal Court operates, gives the ICC the power to investigate and prosecute international crimes on the territory of countries that have recognized its jurisdiction. It regulates the investigation procedures for the most serious crimes, such as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
