Ukraine Proposes Frozen Russian Assets to Fund Special Tribunal on War Crimes

Securing funding remains the primary obstacle to launching the Special Tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine, according to Serhiy Sobolev, First Deputy Head of the Verkhovna Rada’s  delegation to PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe), Ukrinform reported on April 22.

Sobolev stated that the two most viable options to finance the court’s operations are direct funding from the European Union or the redirection of frozen Russian assets.

During a recent PACE plenary session, Sobolev questioned Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset on coordinating with the EU to use seized Russian funds. According to Ukrinform, Berset confirmed he is working with the European Commission and will meet with European Commissioner Michael McGrath to discuss utilizing the frozen assets to finance the tribunal.

A secondary delay stems from the host nation, the Netherlands. The Dutch government is insisting on constructing a brand-new, highly secure facility from scratch rather than retrofitting an existing building. Dutch officials argue a custom-built complex is necessary to prevent any attempts to assassinate or kidnap the high-ranking Russian officials who would stand trial. This requirement significantly increases the projected costs and timeline for the tribunal’s launch, Ukrinform wrote.

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Despite the financial and logistical hurdles, Sobolev confirmed that the Council of Europe and PACE have completed all necessary legal and preparatory work. The CoE’s Committee of Ministers has formally urged the parliaments of all participating countries to expedite the ratification of the relevant agreements. To date, 19 Council of Europe member states and Costa Rica have joined Ukraine in establishing the tribunal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously signed ratification instruments for an agreement with the Council of Europe to establish a Special Tribunal targeting the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The original agreement was signed in Strasbourg on June 25 alongside CoE Secretary General Alain Berset.

Based on the Rome Statute and UN resolutions, the tribunal holds international legal authority to prosecute senior Russian political and military leaders, including through in absentia trials. Zelenskyy has directed the government to draft the necessary legislative amendments for swift parliamentary approval to formally launch the institution.

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