The European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) on Sunday announced the official launch of the new International Center for Crimes of Aggression in the War in Ukraine, which will receive the support of the Joint Investigation Team.
On the day ending, in the Ukrainian city of Lviv, an international conference to ensure accountability for fundamental international crimes committed in Ukraine, Eurojust said in a statement that the countries that are part of the joint investigation team of the agency “have decided to amend the agreement”. among them, to reflect the future role of the International Center for the Prosecution of Crimes of Aggression”.
The agreement between Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia and Romania then stipulated that this new centre, now official, “will be part of the existing support structure for the JIT, with a specific focus on support and reinforcement of investigations into the crime of aggression”, and “additional logistical, financial and operational support” is also provided.
Eurojust adds that the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), as a member of the Joint Investigation Team, will be able to participate in the cooperation, which will be carried out by the EU agency, with “the main buildings by the summer”.
The members of this joint investigation team – which, in addition to the countries, also includes the European Agencies for Criminal Justice Cooperation and Police Cooperation – “will continue their harmonious cooperation on ongoing investigations into alleged fundamental international crimes in Ukraine”, concludes Eurojust. .
The EU supports the investigation launched by the ICC Prosecutor, and last April an agreement was reached on a joint investigation team of Eurojust (European Agency for Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters) and the International Criminal Court, in cooperation with Europol (European Agency for Police cooperation). and several Member States, together with Ukraine.
On February 24, Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine that has already killed thousands of civilians, forcing millions to flee, some from the country.
The Russian invasion was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and strengthening economic and political sanctions against Moscow.
In recent months, as the country found itself in armed confrontation following the Russian invasion last February, the EU has mobilized €2.2 billion in financial support for Ukraine.
Source: DN
