Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha thanked the Netherlands for its work on budget calculations and operational planning for the Special Tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
This was discussed during Sybiha’s meeting with the new Dutch ambassador to Ukraine, Roelof van Ees, the Foreign Ministry reported.
“We are counting on the Netherlands’ continued leadership and the swift completion of work on the budget,” the foreign minister emphasised.
Sybiha underlined that partner countries must receive realistic and well-founded calculations that will encourage broad participation in the Special Tribunal. This is important for the entry into force of the Expanded Partial Agreement on the Special Tribunal’s Steering Committee and for launching all the legal mechanisms for its work.
The minister also stressed the importance of housing the Special Tribunal in an existing building in The Hague to avoid unnecessary financial costs and delays.
“2027 must become a year of justice for Ukraine. All those responsible must be punished — including those who made the decision to unleash this aggressive war,” Andriy Sybig]ha said.
- In July, the Dutch government decided to host on its territory not only the preparatory stages but also the full operational phase of the Special Tribunal on the crime of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
- In May, Sybiga said that the special tribunal on the crime of Russia’s aggression would begin operating within a year. At the time, the tribunal’s funding was confirmed and groups were formed to work on bringing perpetrators to justice.
- As of May, 36 countries and the European Union had officially declared their intention to join the Expanded Partial Agreement on establishing the Special Tribunal.
- The President’s Office explained that the statute of the Special Tribunal provides for the possibility of holding hearings not only in The Hague but also outside the body’s permanent location.
- It is known that the tribunal’s judges will be elected by the tribunal’s Steering Committee. The statute provides for a roster of 15 judges. In particular, five judges will serve on the Appeals Chamber. It also provides for one pre-trial chamber judge and three Trial Chamber judges.