War in Ukraine: Russia in need of explanations – “Nuremberg Processes 2.0” are to come

Created: 05/28/2022, 14:23

By: Lucas Maier

The Nuremberg trials (archive photo) as a model: Russia continues to speak of denazification.

© DB/dpa

Since the beginning of the Ukraine war, Russia has been trying to legitimize its illegal invasion.

There could even be show trials in the East now.

Kharkiv – It is November 20, 1945, fascist Germany has lost the war and 24 suspected war criminals of the Hitler dictatorship are standing before a war tribunal in Nuremberg.

After almost a year, the verdicts were announced on October 1, 1946.

Half of the accused were sentenced to death.

Internationally, the Nuremberg trials are now considered a milestone in the history of coming to terms with the Nazi crimes.

Ever since the Russian attack on Ukraine began, Vladimir Putin and his supporters have been talking about wanting to “denazify” Ukraine.

In the meantime, in the course of the attempted legitimacy of the war of aggression, which violates international law, the term "Nuremberg Trials 2.0" is also being spoken of, as theguardian.com reports.

Ukraine war: Pro-Russian separatists are already talking about planning

In the Russian-controlled region of Donetsk, separatists loyal to the Kremlin are already talking about planning such a tribunal.

"We plan to organize an international tribunal on the territory of the republic," said Denis Pushilin, leader of occupied Donetsk.

According to the Guardian, however, he did not name the Nuremberg trials as a model, but the Kharkiv trial of 1943.

• Facts about the war crimes trial in Kharkiv 1943:

• Period:

  December 15-18, 1943.

• Accused:

  Three soldiers of the Hitler regime and a collaborator from Ukraine.

• Charges:

  thousands of murders, systematic destruction of cities and killing of the wounded.

• Verdicts:

  All four were found guilty and sentenced to death.

• Source: University of North Carolina Press

According to the Guardian, the head of the annexed Crimea has also spoken out in favor of such a process.

Such should serve as a "lesson for all who have forgotten the lessons of Nuremberg," said the director.

In the occupied territories of eastern Ukraine, authorities are in the process of reinstating the death penalty, thedigitalviews.com reports.

Russia: Attempt to legitimize invasion of Ukraine

Such a trial could serve to shore up Putin's propaganda.

Renowned historian Francine Hirsch of the University of Wisconsin-Madison told the Guardian: "It would be a political process aimed at presenting a particular narrative about the war that supports Putin's denazification argument.

It is a show trial designed to turn fiction into reality.”

Some observers believe that such a show trial should serve as a "counterbalance" to international investigations into Russia.

One proponent of this view, according to the Guardian, is Philippe Sands, a law professor at University College London.

It remains to be seen whether the Kremlin will ultimately take this drastic step and carry out a show tribunal with the death penalty.

In any case, Putin is sticking to the advanced argument of “denazification” to this day.

(Lucas Maier)