Russia: Ukraine

(asked on 27th February 2023) - View Source

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, if she will make an assessment with her Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of allowing UK courts to be used for hearings about damage to Ukrainian infrastructure caused by Russian forces.


Answered by
Michael Tomlinson Portrait
Michael Tomlinson
Minister of State (Minister for Illegal Migration)
This question was answered on 7th March 2023

Those responsible for the atrocities that have been committed in Ukraine will be held to account, including military commanders and other individuals in the Putin regime. Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is barbaric. The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, and we are committed to helping them secure justice for a growing catalogue of war crimes, which would of course include deliberate or disproportionate damage caused to civilian infrastructure by Russian forces. The international community is rightly focused on prosecution for war crimes. That is the right focus to ensure accountability and to have a deterrent effect on the behaviour of those fighting this conflict at the moment. At Ukraine’s invitation, the UK will play a leading role in a core group of like-minded partners to pursue criminal accountability for Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The Attorney General has just returned from Ukraine, supporting our training of Ukrainian judges. Cases are already being heard in Ukraine itself. Although consideration could be given to using the courts in England and Wales, it will be necessary to have an international tribunal, and we are determined to help secure justice for the growing catalogue of war crimes in Ukraine.

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