Without proper justice and accountability, without reparations and compensation, this war will never end: Olha Stefanishyna

Service of the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, posted 08 May 2023 20:49

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna called for redoubled efforts to create a mechanism to bring russia to justice for its crimes of aggression against Ukraine in her speech at the European Conference on Democracy and Human Rights held on May 5 in Oslo, Norway.

The official stressed the importance of the Council of Europe’s leadership in bringing russia to justice for its war of aggression against Ukraine. In particular, she spoke specifically about the creation of a mechanism to compensate Ukraine for damages as a possible topic for the upcoming Council of Europe summit to be held in Reykjavík, Iceland, on May 16-17.

“We must remember that without proper justice and real accountability, without reparations and compensation, this war will never end. Moreover, the lack of accountability for the atrocities and crimes committed and the war unleashed in the heart of Europe will open the way for new aggressions, not only by the russian federation, but also by other states that will be ready to follow russia’s example,” said Olha Stefanishyna.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the concept of a compensation mechanism envisaged the creation of a universal and integrated system that would guarantee real compensation for losses and damage caused to Ukraine. Such a system could include the creation of a special commission, a compensation fund and an effective mechanism for implementing decisions, as well as a register of damages.

Ukraine also insists on the establishment of an international tribunal for the crime of russian aggression, the Deputy Prime Minister reminded.

“The creation of such a tribunal and prosecution will also serve as a signal to russian citizens that regardless of the narratives that are being spread inside russia, regardless of the duration of the military aggression, responsibility will come, and it will not only affect putin. Everyone will pay for the crimes committed by the kremlin and by putin personally, for decades and generations,” she stressed.

Olha Stefanishyna called to go beyond the existing discussions and not to be limited to the existing mechanisms to hold the aggressor accountable for the crimes.

“We must hold discussions at all levels. Given the fact that less than a century after the World War II, all measures taken to deter and prevent any similar aggression have proved inadequate, we must go beyond the existing mechanisms and be guided by a single objective – to bring peace to Europe, to stop the mass destruction of civilians by the russian army and to prevent future aggression. We must restore justice and the rule of democratic values in the world,” the Deputy Prime Minister stressed.

Speakers at the event included Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway, Dalia Grybauskaitė, former President of Lithuania, Thorbjørn Jagland, former Prime Minister of Norway and Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Stefan Löfven, President of the European Socialists and former Prime Minister of Sweden, Bjarni Jónsson, Member of the Icelandic Parliament and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and a number of other European leaders.