"Significant Action Taken": Ukrainian Parliament Endorses Ukraine's Inclusion in the International Court of Justice
In an attempt to retaliate against Russia's alleged war crimes on Ukrainian soil, Kyiv's parliament voted on Wednesday to integrate Ukraine into the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a contracting state. As reported online, a total of 281 out of 408 deputies cast their votes in favor of this move. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described this action as a "notable milestone" using the online platform X.
Kuleba explained that Ukraine's cooperation with the ICC has been instrumental in holding Russia accountable for the atrocities committed during their aggression. He reassured the public that this cooperation would now become even more effective. Furthermore, Kuleba added that this decision took Ukraine one step closer to European Union membership, a goal that the EU has long been urging Kyiv to achieve.
However, this move is a contentious issue within Ukraine, with military representatives expressing concerns that the ICC might also pursue legal action against Ukrainian soldiers for alleged war crimes during the conflict with Russia.
Interestingly, according to Deputy Yevgenia Kravchuk, an exception has been made in this regard. Under Article 124 of the Rome Statute, Ukrainian citizens will be exempted from war crimes prosecution for a period of seven years. The German Foreign Office hailed Ukraine's accession to the ICC, stating that the move strengthens international law and the ICC's role in combating serious crimes such as war crimes.
Since 2002, the ICC based in The Hague has been investigating and prosecuting such serious crimes. The court can issue arrest warrants that are valid in any of the 125 signatory states of the Rome Statute.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the ICC launched an investigation. In March 2023, the judges issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of war crimes in Ukraine. Although the Kremlin does not recognize the ICC, this warrant means that Putin faces the risk of arrest in member states.
The historical integration of Ukraine into the International Criminal Court as a contracting state is a significant step towards holding Russia accountable for their war crimes. Understanding the context, The historical decision made by Kyiv's parliament allows Ukraine to leverage the ICC's resources more effectively in their pursuit of justice.
