A residential building damaged by shelling, in Kharkiv, Ukraine (Picture: AP)
The UK government’s top legal advisor has vowed to put Russian soldiers found guilty of war crimes in Ukraine behind bars.
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, the Attorney General Suella Braverman stressed the urgency of gathering evidence of Russia’s war crimes now.
She has just signed a joint statement with Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, Iryna Venediktova, to reaffirm the UK Government’s support in holding ‘Russia accountable for the crimes that it is committing on Ukrainian soil’.
‘Russia’s crimes might be tried in the courtrooms of Kyiv, The Hague or even in the UK; but whatever the forum, it is critical to gather the evidence now…’, she said.
‘The evidence is there, the world can see it accruing. Our job now is to collect it, preserve it and use it when the moment comes.
‘We have a clear message to Russian leaders and Russian soldiers on the ground in Ukraine; your actions will have consequences and the UK will stand firmly behind Ukraine throughout its journey to justice.
Attorney General Suella Braverman who has vowed to put Russian soldiers found guilty of war crimes in Ukraine behind bars (Picture: PA)
‘We will always defend the Ukrainian people’s right to choose their own future. They have chosen freedom and justice. And Russia’s war criminals have chosen to be behind bars.’
The Metropolitan Police has issued a call for evidence from anyone in the UK who may have direct evidence of war crimes in Ukraine.
It comes as the deputy prime minister prepares to travel to the Hague on Monday to assist the international effort to gather evidence of war crimes.
Russia-Ukraine war: Everything you need to know
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, the country has suffered widespread damages and loss of life amid a major bombing campaign.
Millions of Ukrainian refugees have fled, as cities face shortages of food, water, heat, and medicine – with the British public set to be asked to open their homes to Ukrainian refugees.
Countries have retaliated by imposing sanctions on Russia and oligarchs such as Roman Abramovich, while large companies like Disney, Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Coca-Cola have suspended business in the country.
However, despite these economic blows, Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn’t shown any signs of calling off the attack anytime soon, with a convoy moving closer to the capital Kyiv.
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, a former lawyer who has prosecuted war crimes, previously said the UK has acquired intelligence during past investigations which would prove ‘absolutely critical’ to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC has already started an investigation that could target senior officials believed to be responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide following the invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
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