EU allocates €10M for special tribunal

The European Union on Wednesday announced the allocation of the first 10 million euros to fund the Special Tribunal tasked with investigating and prosecuting Russian leaders for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The decision was made by the EU Joint Council just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly criticized European allies for delaying justice.

According to the stated commission, the established fund will cover court proceedings expenses as well as support international monitoring and expert activities. The Special Tribunal is expected to work in close cooperation with the European Court of Human Rights and international law organizations.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy expressed concern that most EU countries have not yet taken concrete steps toward criminal accountability of senior Russian officials. He emphasized that the court must ensure accountability will be enforced regardless of political influences.

Context

Following the start of military actions in 2022, the EU has repeatedly discussed options for holding Russia accountable under international law. The decision to allocate funds was made within the context of efforts to expand international justice.