On June 30, at the Hennadiy Udovenko Diplomatic Academy, Lev Kishakevych, a judge of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court and Ukraine’s nominee for the position of judge at the International Criminal Court, was introduced to representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Ukraine.

In his opening remarks, Oleksandr Karasevych, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, emphasized that for Ukraine, international criminal justice is not an abstract legal concept, but rather a part of everyday national reality and a moral imperative. He drew the attention of foreign diplomats to the fact that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court was created for a world in which the most serious crimes do not go unpunished. “Today, these crimes are not a thing of the past. They are being committed in the heart of Europe in real time,” he emphasized.

“By ratifying the Rome Statute in the midst of war, Ukraine sent a clear signal: even in the most difficult circumstances, we believe in international law and are ready not only to rely on this system but also to make a significant contribution to its development and to fight for the restoration of justice for all victims of the most serious international crimes,” Oleksandr Karasevych emphasized.

For his part, Ukraine’s candidate for the position of judge at the International Criminal Court, Lev Kishakevich, a judge of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court, presented his professional experience to representatives of foreign diplomatic missions and emphasized that the election of Ukraine’s candidate to the position of judge at the International Criminal Court would be a significant contribution to ensuring the Court’s effective operation, given the high professional caliber and many years of experience of Ukraine’s representative in the administration of justice, particularly in the context of the Russian Federation’s ongoing armed aggression against Ukraine.

In conclusion, Oleksandr Karasevych called on representatives of diplomatic missions to inform the governments of their respective countries about Lev Kishakevich’s candidacy from Ukraine and to promote his comprehensive support during the election of judges to the International Criminal Court, which will take place during the 25th session of the Assembly of States — States Parties to the Rome Statute in New York from December 7 to 17, 2026.