International Criminal Court launches investigation into situation in Ukraine

Investigation of Russian ‘War crime’ against Ukraine 

Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan has decided to open a formal investigation into the situation in Ukraine, Qazet.az reports, citing the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's Facebook page.

It was stated that along with the unprovoked escalation of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, war crimes continue in the country: "In addition to the situation in Crimea and the Donbas, there are grounds to claim that the occupying forces continue to commit crimes against the military and humanity."

The ministry noted that although Ukraine is not a party to the Rome Statute, it has recognized its "ad hoc" jurisdiction on the basis of statements submitted earlier.

Ukraine has filed two applications with the International Criminal Court. The first is related to the events in Ukraine from November 21, 2013, to February 22, 2014, and the second is the continuation of crimes committed since February 20, 2014. The analysis of these two applications gives the prosecutor's office every reason to sue for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Russia's top military-political leadership will have to appear first.