76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Statement by Estonia at Security Council Arria-formula meeting on Ensuring accountability for atrocities committed in Ukraine
Statement by the Permanent Representative of Estonia to the UN, H.E. Mr Sven Jürgenson
April 27, New York
Madam Chair,
We thank Albania, France and Ukraine for convening today’s Arria that Estonia is honoured to co-sponsor. We welcome the remarks by their Excellencies, the Minister of Albania and Vice-Minister of Ukraine and by the esteemed briefers. Estonia aligns itself with the statements by the European Union and the Accountability group of friends.
Madam Chair,
It has been over two months since Nazi-Russia started the unprovoked, absolutely illigitimate full-scale war on Ukraine. Russian forces are committing unspeakable barbarities against Ukraine and the Ukrainians that have been rightfully prohibited under international law because they are inhumane. This includes targeted killing of civilians, attacks on schools and medical facilities, sexual and gender-based violence, including rape, deportation of civilians, including unaccompanied children accross Russian borders, illegal adoption of Ukrainian children, enforced disappearances, illegal detention and torture of the civilian population, including the local government officials and journalists, firing on peaceful protesters and unlawful conscription of Ukrainian nationals. These and other crimes are being perpetrated by physical persons who, together with those giving orders shall be held accountable under international and national law.
Madam Chair,
Estonia has always been a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that forms an important pillar of the rules based international order. We welcome the investigation by the ICC in Ukraine.
Estonia has also started a domestic structural investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine and is cooperating with Eurojust in this regard.
We welcome the OSCE Moscow mechanism’s report that details the many violations amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity that the Russian Federation is committing in Ukraine.
We continue to call on Russia to abide by the order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for Russia to immediately suspend the military operations that it commenced on 24 February in the territory of Ukraine.
It is crucial that evidence of crimes committed in Ukraine continues to be gathered in a manner that will hold up in independent, impartial judicial institutions. All of the information collected needs to be made available to the relevant accountability mechanisms and courts. Accountability mechanisms such as the Commission of Inquiry (CoI), the UN’s human rights monitoring mechanism in Ukraine (HRMMU), the ICC’s and Ukraine’s own investigations need to cooperate and compliment each other’s mandates.
Madam Chair,
The destabilising effects of Russia’s aggression are felt throughout the world. The only country that needs to stop the senseless war is the instigator – the Russian Federation. The individuals perpetrating atrocities will need to stop executing unlawful orders or face the consequences.
Time is said to be too slow for those who wait, and too long for those who grieve.
Russia has turned its back on international law and order, including the UN Charter. While the international and domestic investigators and courts do their work, the international community has to do its utmost to keep the spotlight on the aggressor.
The world is watching and is united in horror. We stand with Ukraine. We mourn every life lost due to senseless Russian aggression. We need to do more to save Ukrainian lives already now, while we work hard for justice to be done.
Thank you.
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