Politics Ukraine joins the International Criminal Court
Ukraine has joined the International Criminal Court, but is claiming a temporary exemption from jurisdiction for its military.
21.08.2024, 17:23
SDA
The parliament in Kiev voted with 281 MPs in favor of ratifying the so-called Rome Statute of the Criminal Court, as MP Yaroslav Shelesnyak announced on Telegram. There was one vote against and 22 abstentions.
Although Ukraine signed the Rome Statute in January 2000, it has not yet ratified it. The Statute is the basis of the International Criminal Court (ICC) based in The Hague. Among other things, the court deals with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Country does not want to recognize court for seven years
However, the document that has now been adopted stipulates that Ukraine will not recognize the jurisdiction of the Criminal Court for war crimes for seven years when it comes to Ukrainian citizens. This is due to the army's fears that its actions in the fight against Russian forces could be charged as war crimes in some cases. The military conflict has not only been going on since 2022, but since 2014 - since the first appearance of Russian forces in the Donbass.
Kiev explains that ICC requests for cooperation can be sent both through diplomatic channels and directly to the General Prosecutor's Office or the Ministry of Justice - in Ukrainian.
Not all countries ratify the Rome Statute
Due to complicated deadlines, the Rome Statute will not come into force for Ukraine for several weeks. So far, 124 states have ratified it, with 139 signatories. Russia and the USA have signed but not ratified.
Among other things, the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for his alleged responsibility for the deportation of Ukrainian children.
