**International Community Takes Step Towards Justice for Ukraine: Special Tribunal Approved**
In a significant move towards accountability, European foreign ministers have given the green light to create a special tribunal to prosecute Russia’s top leaders for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The decision was made during a meeting in Lviv on May 9, where representatives from 35 countries and the Council of Europe gathered.
The new tribunal will be established under the auspices of the Council of Europe, with the aim of prosecuting Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top officials for planning and waging war against Ukraine. This move is seen as a major step towards ensuring that those responsible for launching the invasion nearly three years ago face justice.
**A Long-Overdue Move**
The approval of the special tribunal has been welcomed by Ukrainian authorities, who have long advocated for such a body to be established. President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called for accountability and justice for Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already issued arrest warrants for Putin and another Russian official, Maria Lvova-Belova, over the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.
The crime of aggression is a unique offense that targets only those at the top of the chain of command responsible for planning and waging war. This makes it different from other international charges such as war crimes or crimes against humanity.
**A Symbolic Move**
The approval of the tribunal comes at a time when Russia’s Victory Day parade was taking place in Moscow, an annual event used to showcase military might and justify its actions in Ukraine. The move is seen as a symbolic slap on the wrist for Putin and his government, who have continued to deny any wrongdoing.
**A New Era for Accountability**
The creation of this special tribunal marks a new era in international accountability. It sends a strong message that those responsible for aggression will be held accountable, and it provides a platform for Ukraine to seek justice. As the next formal step is taken at the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on May 13-14, one can only hope that this move marks the beginning of a new era in international cooperation and accountability.
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