Oleg Davigora20:56, 08/15/24

Ukraine’s participation in the International Criminal Court will increase the court’s effectiveness in prosecuting crimes committed by the Russian military.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law on the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and its amendments. The second project provides for amendments to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes of Ukraine against the background of ratification. This is evidenced by the cards of draft laws  No. 0285  and  No. 11484 .

According to the draft law, Ukraine will ratify the Rome Statute, but for seven years after the ratification, it will not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court in relation to Ukrainians for committing crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute.

Ratification will enable Ukraine to acquire full membership in the ISS. Later, Ukraine will become a full member of the Court and participate in the work of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, the explanatory note says.

In the explanatory note to the second draft law, it is noted that the document is aimed at bringing the provisions of the Criminal Code of Ukraine into compliance with the norms of the Rome Statute of the ICC and ensuring criminal prosecution for the most serious international crimes.

As  the deputy head of the Office of the President Iryna Mudra explained  , the ratification of the Rome Statute is one of the requirements for joining the EU. There is also such a provision in security agreements with some countries, in particular the Netherlands and Germany.

“Ukraine’s participation in the International Criminal Court will increase the effectiveness of the court’s work in prosecuting crimes committed by the Russian military,” she said.

According to her, Ukraine’s full participation in the ICC will simplify access for Ukrainians to the special Trust Fund for victims and increase the chances of receiving compensation for victims of Russian crimes.

Mudra reminded that according to the Association Agreement with the EU, Ukraine is obliged to ratify the Rome Statute. It is also one of the conditions for the country’s entry into the bloc.

She emphasized that the ratification of the Rome Statute does not mean that there will be a risk of bringing the Ukrainian military to justice.

The effect of the Rome Statute in the world – details

Last year, Armenia finally approved the Rome Statute , on the basis of which the International Criminal Court operates.

“On October 13, the President of the Republic of Armenia Vaagn Khachaturian signed a statement on the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, signed on July 17, 1998,” the message said. 

In addition, the President of Armenia signed the statement of the parliament “On the retroactive recognition of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court by the Republic of Armenia”, the possibility of which is provided for in Article 12, Part 3 of the Statute. 

(C)UNIAN 2024