On 10 July, during her visit to the Council of Europe, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa took part in the retreat of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe titled "Advancing Justice and Accountability in Ukraine."
The event, held under the auspices of the Maltese Presidency, brought together ambassadors of Council of Europe member and observer states with the aim of consolidating political will and identifying next steps to ensure accountability of the Russian Federation for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
In her statement, Mariana Betsa emphasized: “Justice for Ukraine is not only a legal matter but a moral obligation of the democratic world. The establishment of the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression is an unprecedented step since Nuremberg. We must do everything possible to ensure that the Tribunal becomes operational as soon as possible and that those responsible are held to account. Every day of impunity is another day of suffering for Ukraine and a challenge to the international legal order”.
The Deputy Minister stressed the need to move toward tangible results: real indictments, real convictions, real justice. She also called for enhanced coordination among states and international bodies to ensure the full implementation of the Tribunal and the future compensation architecture.
For his part, Anton Korynevych, Director of the Department of International Law at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, in his online address highlighted:
“It is crucial to maintain the momentum generated by the recent signing of the bilateral agreement on the Special Tribunal by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset. We must now move swiftly toward the conclusion of the Enlarged Partial Agreement within the Council of Europe framework. Broad participation of Council of Europe member and non-member states will be key to ensuring the Tribunal’s legitimacy, operational effectiveness, and long-term impact.”
Anton Korynevych stressed that the Tribunal is not only of political importance but also of fundamental legal significance — as an instrument for holding the top leadership of the aggressor state accountable.
As part of her visit, Deputy Minister Mariana Betsa also met with representatives of the Ukrainian community in Strasbourg. The meeting brought together four active associations: SAU – Support Action Ukraine, MICT, PROMO-Ukraїne, and Tournesole.
Mariana Betsa expressed her gratitude for the community’s active stance and steadfast support: “The work of the Ukrainian community abroad is of utmost importance. You help increase pressure on the aggressor state, build international solidarity, and advance the idea of justice. Your voice is a powerful weapon in the fight for truth”.