Ukraine’s Parliament ratifies International Criminal Court statute
Source: MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak/Telegram
Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), marking a significant milestone in the country’s commitment to international law.
The decision got the votes of 281 Ukrainian MPs who, prior to the vote, were sent letters from Ukraine’s General Staff and the Main Intelligence Directorate urging to green light the policy.
The ratification was initiated by president Volodymyr Zelensky on August 15. In a separate statement, Ukrainian officials said they will introduce 7-year wait time before the ICC is granted the jurisdiction over Ukrainian citizens concerning crimes outlined in Article 8 of the Rome Statute.
Kyiv also plans to ratify the Rome Statute with consideration of the 2010 Kampala Amendments, which include provisions on the crime of aggression. Given that ratification is not retroactive, Ukraine is likely to continue its efforts to establish a special tribunal to hold Russian leadership accountable for the 2022 invasion.
It’s worth noting that Ukraine initially signed the Rome Statute back in 2000, but only today, 24 years later, Ukraine has lived to its word to ratify it in full.
Amendments to Ukraine’s enforcement proceedings legislation, initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have entered into force. Among other measures, the reform provides for the automated lifting of attachments on bank accounts immediately after debts in enforcement proceedings have been fully settled. The main practical benefit for citizens is the complete elimination of the need to contact an enforcement officer in person and wait for paper decisions once the debt has been paid.
The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade has received another batch of supplies as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative. This time, the military received seven quad bikes and four mobile shower and bath units.
In my previous column, I wrote about social innovations in Ukraine. Those innovations are part of civic resilience and the democratization of security, which Europe is paying close attention to right now. The EU is trying to work out how to spread responsibility for its own security across society as a whole, rather than leaving it to institutions alone. It is looking for concrete ways to bring ordinary people into the work of defense and resistance.
Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court demanding that NABU be obligated to register proceedings regarding the fact of exerting influence on the court and to recognize Petro Poroshenko as a victim in the case of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, due to her pressure on Supreme Court judges who were considering a lawsuit to overturn sanctions.
Internationally recognized brands and financial institutions should direct capital to Ukraine now, not waiting for the hostilities to end. This was emphasized by Rinat Akhmetov, president of FC Shakhtar, during a working visit to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where he met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.