The European Commission supports the establishment of an international court to try war crimes
“Russia will pay for the devastation it causes.” Ursula von der Leyen’s statement is not an empty slogan. The European Union (EU) wants Putin’s regime to pay legally and financially for the war in Ukraine. This Wednesday, Brussels proposed expropriating the frozen goods and assets of Russian oligarchs for their support of the Russian invasion and using those funds to rebuild the country. In addition, the EU will support the establishment of a special international tribunal to try war crimes committed by Russia.
As detailed by the Chairman of the Community Executive, the economic damage to Ukraine is estimated to be around €600,000 million. Since the start of the invasion, the EU has used economic sanctions to freeze €300 billion in Russian central bank reserves and confiscate a further €19 billion from individuals and companies that supported the Russian offensive. “Russia and its oligarchs must compensate Ukraine for the damage and costs of rebuilding the country,” von der Leyen assured.
The EU wants to create a structure to “manage” and invest the confiscated funds and allocate the proceeds to the reconstruction of Ukraine. In order for a person’s assets to be seized, he must have “committed a specific crime,” European sources emphasize. In the long term, when the sanctions are lifted, the return of the funds should be “linked to a peace agreement in which Russia compensates for all damage caused”. For the creation of this legal framework, cooperation with the G7 partners will be “fundamental”. In addition, the proposal must be discussed with the Member States, who must approve the initiative.
War crimes will not go unpunished either. The mass graves in Bucha, Irpin, Izium… “At least 20,000 Ukrainian civilians have died since the beginning of the invasion,” von der Leyen noted. Russia “must pay for this” and also for “the crime of aggression against a sovereign state”. The European Commission, he stressed, is ready to work with the international community to establish this special court.
Source: La Verdad
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