Netherlands To Host Preparations For Historic Russia War Tribunal

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

THE HAGUE / KYIV (Worthy News) – The Netherlands announced on Tuesday that it has agreed to serve as the host country for preparing the “Russia Tribunal,” an international court aimed at holding Russian political and military leaders accountable for their roles in the war in Ukraine.

In an exclusive interview in Kyiv, Acting Foreign Minister David van Weel told the Dutch daily De Telegraaf (“The Telegraph”): “For victims and survivors, it is very important that justice is done where injustice has been committed. Perpetrators must pay.”

Van Weel called the decision “historic,” noting that it follows a long Dutch tradition of hosting international justice institutions, including the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

A team of approximately 50 prosecutors, judges, and legal experts will commence work in the Netherlands on the tribunal’s preparatory phase, officials announced. Van Weel personally conveyed the decision to his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha during his visit to war-torn Kyiv, the capital.

The Netherlands also pledged 25 million euros (about $27 million) in humanitarian support to help Ukraine’s poorest citizens survive what officials fear could be a “horror winter” amid continuing Russian missile and drone strikes on power plants and energy networks.

LEGAL AND SECURITY RISKS

The tribunal will focus on prosecuting those responsible for the crime of aggression — the act of launching or directing the invasion of Ukraine.

Trials could take years and may proceed in absentia, given that Russia has refused to cooperate with previous international investigations.

Van Weel acknowledged that hosting such a court carries risks. “We are already preparing for hybrid attacks and cyber campaigns,” he said, adding that Russia has previously targeted Dutch infrastructure and institutions with cyber operations.

Despite the challenges, Van Weel said the tribunal is vital for ensuring accountability and lasting peace. “It will take time, but holding those responsible to account is essential to ending the conflict,” he explained.

Officials confirmed that The Hague, often described as “the international city of peace and justice,” is the likely venue. However, a final decision will rest with the next Dutch government, which must assess security and housing requirements for the court and its staff.

MAJOR AGREEMENT

The initiative follows a May agreement among 37 nations, under the auspices of the Council of Europe, to establish the tribunal.

The court will complement existing efforts by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which already issued an arrest warrant in 2023 for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the alleged deportation of Ukrainian children.

If realized, it would mark the first time since the 1940s Nuremberg and Tokyo trials that a country’s top political and military leadership could be tried for crimes of aggression — underscoring what Van Weel described as “a historic moment for international justice.”

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, more than a million people are believed to have been killed or injured.

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