Pakosta: Estonia welcomes the adoption of the special tribunal resolution

TALLINN – Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta attended a meeting of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers in Chișinău, Moldova, on Thursday and Friday. As a significant milestone, the meeting approved a resolution for an enlarged partial agreement to establish a special tribunal in The Hague for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

The special tribunal for the crime of aggression is an independent international court, to be created through an agreement between the Council of Europe and Ukraine. Its purpose is to investigate and prosecute the individuals most responsible for the crime of aggression. The tribunal will complement the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which investigates crimes against humanity and war crimes in Ukraine, while the special tribunal will focus specifically on the crime of aggression.

Pakosta described it as "a truly long-awaited and landmark step" forward in investigating the crimes Russia has committed in Ukraine "with terrorist brutality and consistency." She added it is crucial for publicizing the atrocities and their perpetrators, and for bringing the guilty to justice. "And we must not be hesitant in saying that the ideological roots of these crimes—both direct and indirect incitement and encouragement—come from the Kremlin," Pakosta said.

Estonia, along with 34 other Council of Europe member states, has expressed its readiness to participate in the tribunal's work. Costa Rica, Australia, and the European Union are also involved.

In February of this year, Estonia's parliament, the Riigikogu, became the first in the world to confirm its readiness to support the special tribunal's administration and funding. Estonia continues to actively work on expanding the circle of supporters among both Council of Europe member states and other nations.

The tribunal's founding documents were drafted by a core group established in 2022, composed of lawyers from 40 countries, including Estonia, as well as representatives from the European Union and the Council of Europe.