President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has submitted a package of bills to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the country’s parliament. Ukraine signed the Rome Statute in 2000 but has not ratified it yet. The decision to ratify comes in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. One of the draft laws specifies that Ukraine will fully accede to the ICC by ratifying the provisions of the Rome Statute. However, there is a clause stating that Ukraine does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction over its citizens for crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute.
The ICC recently issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials for war crimes against Ukraine. Despite some countries not signing or withdrawing from the Rome Statute, the ICC continues to investigate and hold leaders accountable for crimes committed during conflicts.
The move towards ratifying the Rome Statute shows Ukraine’s commitment to seeking justice for the atrocities committed during the invasion. By joining forces with international bodies like the ICC, Ukraine aims to hold perpetrators accountable and bring justice to the victims.
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