Portugal donates €75,000 to support Ukraine to gather evidence of russian war crimes

Portugal will financially support the collection of evidence of russian war crimes in Ukraine and may send experts from its main criminal investigation force, the Judicial Police (PJ), and the National Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Euractiv reports that Justice Minister Catarina Sarmento e Castro announced a voluntary donation of €75,000 to support the international collection of forensic evidence in Ukraine and also consider other forms of cooperation.

"With regard to support for ICC investigations into war crimes committed in Ukraine, in particular the crime of aggression, Portugal had already provided additional support through the provision of a national expert from the Judicial Police on secondment and the advance payment of the national contribution to the Court, as requested by the Office of the Prosecutor," Portugal's justice ministry said.

The government is considering "sending experts from the PJ and the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences to join forensic teams in the field on a rotational basis."

Representatives from more than 40 countries met in London this week to discuss further support for the independent ICC investigating russian war crimes in Ukraine. The EU, so far, has announced over €8 million in financial support from member states to support the investigation.