UN to investigate Russian war crimes

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The UN believes that Russia’s indiscriminate attacks on Ukrainian territory can be equated with war crimes.

Federico Villegas, President of the UN Human Rights Council, appointed three members of the commission to investigate military and other crimes committed by the Russian Federation during the war against Ukraine. Their tasks will include the collection and analysis of evidence. This was announced on Wednesday, March 30, at the UN Human Rights Council.

The commission included:

  • Erik Messe of Norway (Chairman) – Former Head of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Rwandan Genocide;
  • Jasminka Dzumhur from Bosnia and Herzegovina is a former judge, now the ombudsman for human rights in her country;
  • Pablo de Greiffa of Colombia is a former Justice Adviser at International Organizations and Director of the Transitional Justice Program at New York University.

The Commission will “collect, compile and analyze evidence of violations and abuses, including their gender dimension, register and store all information, documentation and evidence, in particular interviews, testimonies and forensic examination materials, in accordance with the standards of international law, taking into account any or future litigation.

The commission was established for one year. Based on the results of its activities, it must submit an oral report in September 2022, and by March 2023, prepare a written report and submit it to the UN General Assembly.