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Peace Prize Winner to Write New Book About Ukrainian Writer Killed by Russia and Special Tribunal for Moscow
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British-French lawyer Philippe Sands, winner of the 2026 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, is writing a book about a special tribunal for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, centered on the story of Ukrainian writer Viktoria Amelina, killed in a Russian missile strike in 2023.
Sands revealed details of the upcoming publication in an interview with German outlet Börsenblatt on October 5, explaining that the book will examine international justice and accountability for Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
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As one of the initiators of the special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, Sands emphasized the importance of establishing a legal mechanism to address crimes that fall outside the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“This is the first international criminal court for the crime of aggression since Nuremberg. So it is an answer to those who claim that international law is dead. It is not dead,” Sands said.
The lawyer also disclosed that he had initially intended to conclude his literary trilogy examining international crimes and justice. However, he has since decided to expand the series into four books, with the final installment scheduled for publication in 2030.
“The fourth book will be dedicated to the creation of a special tribunal concerning the murder of Ukrainian writer Viktoria Amelina. I knew her. In 2023, the Russians fired a missile at a restaurant where she was eating pizza,” Sands said.
Reflecting on his approach to writing, Sands explained that the search for effective mechanisms to prosecute international crimes remains a central theme throughout his work.
“I realized that it is useful to tell a great historical, political, and legal drama through the lens of a personal story. It makes it easier for people to understand the connections,” the author concluded.
Amelina’s literary work has also received international recognition following her death, particularly for its examination of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the experiences of those documenting its consequences.
In January, the Christopher G. Moore Foundation announced that Amelina had been posthumously awarded the 2025 Moore Prize for Human Rights Writing for her book Looking at Women Looking at War: A War and Justice Diary.
The award recognizes literary works addressing human rights issues, with Amelina honored for her account of the war in Ukraine and the personal sacrifices made by those resisting it.
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