US donates $1 million to Russian war crime prosecution center in The Hague

The US State Department has pledged $1 million to the International Center for Prosecuting Aggression (ICPA) against Ukraine, based in The Hague. 

In a statement, the State Department stressed its unwavering commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. The funds aim to support comprehensive justice and accountability for international crimes committed against Ukraine and its people.

"As part of our unwavering commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty and to promoting comprehensive justice and accountability for international crimes against Ukraine and its people, the US Department of State will provide $1 million to the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine (ICPA), which was established in The Hague at Eurojust with the support of the European Commission," the department said.

Prosecutors from various legal systems, including the United States, are already collaborating within the ICPA. Their efforts include gathering and exchanging key evidence, as well as conducting reliable and independent investigations.

The ICPA plays a crucial role in investigating Russia's aggressive war, providing a platform for Ukraine and partner countries to collaborate in building substantial evidence for future legal proceedings. The center is expected to facilitate reliable and independent investigations, fostering cooperation among Ukraine and its international partners.

Background

The International Center for Prosecuting Aggression (ICPA) against Ukraine opened in The Hague in July this year. The main structures of the center will be completed within the next two months.

The ICPA includes prosecutors from Kyiv, the European Union, the United States, and the International Criminal Court. The center conducts investigations and gathers evidence before establishing a special tribunal. This tribunal has the authority to hold Kremlin officials accountable for initiating the war in Ukraine.

The evidence collected will be centralized in a secure location, ensuring its integrity. The launch of ICPA received approval during the United for Justice conference in Lviv in March, where the chief prosecutors of member countries of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) signed an annex to the agreement, establishing the International Center for Prosecuting Aggression against Ukraine within Eurojust. This initiative represents the first international effort to investigate crimes of aggression since World War II.