Lithuania wants to join Council of Europe's register on Russian damage to Ukraine

VILNIUS – Lithuania is seeking to join a register being set up by the Council of Europe's members on the damage caused by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry says the establishment of the register is the first step toward creating an international mechanism for compensation for damages caused by Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

"The register is being established on the basis of the Council of Europe's enlarged partial agreement," Paulina Levickyte, spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, told BNS on Wednesday.

"Its founders will be all of the Council of Europe's member states which will take part in the approval of the resolution of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers on the adoption of the enlarged partial agreement," the spokeswoman said. 

"Any other state, not necessarily a member state of the Council of Europe, will be able to join the enlarged partial agreement and the register at a later stage," she added.

The register will be based in the Netherlands and will register evidence of damage and claims for damages or injuries.

"All natural and legal persons, as well as the state of Ukraine, including its regional and local self-government bodies, and state-owned or -controlled enterprises, will be able to file claims," said Levickyte. 

The register is expected to be set up within a month. The exact annual fee will depend on the number of countries participating in the register.

Lithuania has yet to decide who will be its representative.