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Ursula von der Leyen: "The perpetrators of these heinous crimes must not go unpunished"
Photo:
POOL / REUTERS
The EU wants to send investigative teams to Ukraine to investigate alleged Russian war crimes.
After a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU judicial authority Eurojust and the law enforcement agency Europol were ready to provide support.
In this way, the work of an already agreed joint investigative team could be strengthened.
This is to collect evidence and solve war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Von der Leyen was shocked by the atrocities reported from liberated Ukrainian cities like Bucha.
"These horrifying images must not and will not go unnoticed," she said.
"The perpetrators of these heinous crimes must not go unpunished."
Von der Leyen advocates 'global response'
Pictures of residents of the small town of Bucha, whose bodies were lying on the streets after the withdrawal of Russian troops, have sparked horror around the world since the weekend.
The Ukrainian side blames Russian soldiers for this.
Selenskyj had already spoken of a "genocide" on Sunday.
Moscow, on the other hand, vehemently denies responsibility for the people's deaths.
With a view to further action, von der Leyen advocated a “global response”.
According to them, talks are currently underway between Eurojust and the International Criminal Court "to join forces and involve the Criminal Court in the joint investigation team".
Such a coordinated approach by the Ukrainian authorities, the EU, its member states and agencies, and the International Criminal Court will allow the evidence to be collected, analyzed and processed as fully and legally effectively as possible.
EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders is now to clarify with the Ukrainian Attorney General how an EU investigative team could be sent to Ukraine.
"The Commission will provide the necessary technical and financial support for all EU-led investigations," von der Leyen said.
svs/dpa