Washington, May 20, 2022 (AFP) – Attorneys general from each of the “Five Eyes” alliance member states on Thursday expressed strong support for efforts to prosecute war crimes committed during the Russian occupation of Ukraine.
The Attorney Generals of the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand have said they fully support her Ukrainian counterpart, Iryna Venicetova, in her pursuit of accountability for war crimes committed since Russia’s invasion of their country on February 24.
Ukrainian authorities claim to have opened hundreds of files on crimes allegedly committed by Russian forces.
“We support Ukraine’s pursuit of justice and other international investigations, including the International Criminal Court. [TPI] and other organisations,” prosecutors said in a statement.
“We join in condemning the Russian government for its actions and urge it to stop all violations of international law, stop its illegal occupation, and cooperate in efforts to accountability.”
The statement came a day after a Russian soldier admitted he was guilty of trespassing and killing an unarmed 62-year-old man for four days; this was the first case brought to court by Ukraine in the middle of the war.
Vadim Shishimarin, 21, sought leniency at Thursday’s hearing, where prosecutors are seeking a life sentence.
The soldier said to the court and to the wife of the murdered man, “I know you will not be able to forgive me, but I ask for your mercy.”
“With this first hearing, we are giving a clear signal that not every person, every perpetrator, who orders or assists in the commission of crimes in Ukraine, cannot escape their responsibility,” said Venezitova. said.
Trials of two other Russian soldiers in Ukraine began this Thursday.
source: Noticias
