Symbolic moment in Chișinău. Resolution on establishing Management Committee of Special Tribunal for Crime of Aggression against Ukraine handed to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister

The resolution on establishing the Management Committee of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine was handed today to Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha by Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset and Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popșoi, in his capacity as President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, during the opening ceremony of the ministerial session.

The resolution was adopted at the 135th Ministerial Session of the Council of Europe, chaired by the Republic of Moldova. The agreement provides for the creation of the Management Committee of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, which will ensure funding as well as the administrative and managerial support necessary for its functioning. The Special Tribunal will have the mandate to investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset emphasized that the resolution applies not only to Ukraine, but also to every country that chooses the rule of law—to all those who desire a democratic and secure Europe.

“We take responsibility for ensuring that this aggression will not go unanswered. Crimes will be punished. Justice and values will ensure this. For those who have not yet joined, the door remains open. Justice needs you. Accountability must take center stage. We will ensure that all those who have committed acts of aggression are held accountable,” the European official said.

For his part, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha noted that today is a historic day, reaffirming justice amid the ruins caused by war.

“We no longer have the right to make mistakes. Russia is killing civilians in Ukraine, and their relatives are now watching us. They have a right to justice. Today we have reached a point from which we can no longer turn back. This Tribunal is a reality. Very few believed we would succeed, but it has happened. A year ago we approved the political decision, and now we already have the Implementation Agreement for international criminal justice. Such speed is truly a record,” said Andrii Sybiha.

He emphasized that Europe’s moral foundation will be restored when Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine is punished.

“This is not a matter of the past, but one of the future, which will lead to the restoration of justice, trust, and dignity. Putin has always wanted to go down in history, and this Tribunal will help him achieve his goal. Ukraine believed in the Tribunal from the very beginning, and I am certain that through it we will achieve peace, EU accession, and our other goals. The Tribunal will put an end to the vicious cycle—for every life taken, for every world destroyed, for every destiny cut short. Ukraine needs this, Europe needs this, and even Russia needs this Tribunal. We are creating an accountability framework based on three pillars: the Special Tribunal, the Register of Damages, and the Commission on Damages. Thank you all for making this day a reality,” said Andrii Sybiha.

Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popșoi also recalled that from the very first moments of the full-scale war against Ukraine, when the first children and women crossed the border, the Republic of Moldova opened its hearts and arms.

“We have become known as a small country with a big heart. We are very pleased that today we can help strengthen this foundation for accountability, so that the aggressor does not enjoy impunity. It is important for each of us to ensure that there will be accountability, and I encourage all remaining members to join the agreement, and those who have already joined to ratify it as soon as possible, because only together can we demonstrate strength and protect our values. Glory to Ukraine!” the official emphasized.

By participating in the Enlarged Partial Agreement, the Republic of Moldova contributes to strengthening international efforts to ensure accountability for serious violations of international law and reaffirms its firm commitment to the UN Charter, the rules-based international order, and the defense of international peace and security.

The Republic of Moldova is among the 34 member states that have expressed their intention to join this agreement, alongside the European Union, Costa Rica and Australia.