The Biden administration on Wednesday made a proper willpower that Russian troops have dedicated struggle crimes in Ukraine and stated it will work with others to prosecute offenders, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated.
“Today, I can announce that, based on information currently available, the US government assesses that members of Russia’s forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine,” Blinken stated in an announcement launched as he was touring to Brussels with President Joe Biden for an emergency summit of NATO leaders.
The evaluation was primarily based on a “careful review” of public and intelligence sources since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine final month, he stated.
America’s high diplomat stated the United States would share that data with allies, companions and worldwide establishments tasked with investigating allegations of struggle crimes and crimes towards humanity.
“We’ve seen numerous credible reports of indiscriminate attacks and attacks deliberately targeting civilians, as well as other atrocities. Russia’s forces have destroyed apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, critical infrastructure, civilian vehicles, shopping centers, and ambulances, leaving thousands of innocent civilians killed or wounded,” Blinken stated stated.
He cited assaults on the civilian inhabitants within the besieged metropolis of Mariupol and elsewhere.
Neither Russia nor the U.S. acknowledges the authority of the International Criminal Court at The Hague, presenting apparent difficulties for searching for accountability for struggle crimes dedicated in Ukraine.
The US might nonetheless help a prosecution earlier than the court docket, which earlier opened an investigation into atrocities dedicated in Ukraine, by serving to to assemble proof towards Russian forces in Ukraine, utilizing among the huge skills it has deployed to trace and monitor what has been occurring within the battle.
The US might additionally present assist and backing to a fee of inquiry established by the UN Human Rights Council.
War crimes specialists have advised that Russian forces and authorities officers is also prosecuted in nations equivalent to Spain and Germany, the place authorized codes acknowledge common jurisdiction, or that the U.S. might deliver felony expenses.
Under US legislation, an American citizen must be among the many victims for expenses to introduced beneath present statutes.
Two Democratic members of Congress urged Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday to open an investigation into struggle crimes for the deaths of two Americans in Ukraine _ journalist Brent Renaud and Jimmy Hill, who was killed whereas ready in a bread line.
“Both Mr. Renaud and Mr. Hill were non-combatants who were not taking any active part in the hostilities,” wrote Reps. Ted Lieu and Rep. Eric Swalwell, each from California.
The Department of Justice didn’t instantly touch upon the letter.
