Council of Europe unanimous on Russia and Belarus One politician broke out

A resolution concerning Russia's aggression against Ukraine was adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) during its winter plenary session. 100 people voted in favor, and one person did not vote.

It was emphasized that the February 2022 invasion would be against the UN Charter. As a result of a fraudulent referendum last September, Russia has also made an effort to annex four regions of Ukraine.

is an increase in aggression. 2014 saw the start of the offensive against Ukraine.

PACE stated that the Russian assault from February 2014 that resulted in the illegitimate annexation of Crimea is still being carried out by the Russians in these actions. Russia's expulsion from the Council of Europe in March 2022 as a result of its violation of the Statute of the Organization's by initiating the war in Ukraine.

The Belarusian government permitted Russia to attack Ukraine using Belarusian territory, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe called Belarus's leadership out on this. The resolution states that Belarus's leaders "should be held accountable" and that the international community "should condemn the role and complicity of Belarus.".

Additionally, it stated that the UN Charter is also broken by the Minsk government's actions. The conduct of Russia and Belarus satisfies the criteria for an act of aggression set forth in both the Statute of the international criminal court and customary international law.

PACE on the difficulties of judging Russia and Belarus According to PACE, political and military leaders in Russia and Belarus should be identified and prosecuted because, without their actions, atrocities like war crimes, crimes against humanity, and possibly even genocide, as well as other harms and casualties due to the war, would not have occurred. The difficulties with judging Russia and Belarus were brought up by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Both the UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court's prosecutor have not been tasked with handling the case because Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine are not signatories to the ICC Statute. Moscow is also prevented from abusing its veto power in the UN Security Council thanks to this.

PACE emphasized that there is no other international criminal court that has the authority to investigate and prosecute aggression against Ukraine. The prosecutor's office in Ukraine faced challenges, which were mentioned.

Ukraine is currently at war. Creation of a Special international criminal court The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe made a call for the creation of a Special international criminal court for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine to the Council of Europe's member states and observers.

The European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and NATO all gave their approval to the proposal. It also received support from numerous governments and parliaments. PACE asserts that support for the establishment of such a tribunal ought to be expressed at the summit in Reykjavik in May.

When it comes to crimes of aggression, the tribunal would not be protected by any privileges. Additionally, the potential punishment would not be impacted by the position held.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe called for support for the establishment of a Provisional International Prosecutor's Office, which would collaborate with the Ukrainian prosecutor's office, while such a tribunal is being established. The Wagner Group was also the subject of a resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that expressed outrage over the numerous reports of atrocities, flagrant human rights abuses, and contraventions of international humanitarian law committed by Russian forces or armed groups affiliated with them, including the Wagner Group.

There is a good chance that the actions taken violate the Geneva Convention. The Russian narrative of "de-Ukrainization," in PACE's opinion, possesses all the characteristics of genocide incitement.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe also expressed its satisfaction with the UN General Assembly resolution, which emphasized that Russia must take responsibility for its actions toward Ukraine and make up for the harm and losses resulting from those actions. Finally, PACE urged Russia to halt its aggression, pull back its forces, and work with investigators to hold those responsible accountable.

Belarus was also urged to support Russia and refrain from taking part in any acts of aggression. Continue reading: Putin applies pressure to Lukashenko.

"He has reason," the dictator of Belarus said, justifying his attack on Ukraine. Read also: Zelensky struck Putin. The situation that would bring an end to the war was stated by him.

Creation of a Special International Criminal Court The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe made a call for the creation of a Special International Criminal Court for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine to the Council of Europe's member states and observers.