By KYIV. May 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are under functional immunity, but Ukrainian law enforcement officers are collecting evidence of their involvement in crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Ukraine, Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova said.
"People remain under functional immunity throughout the civilized world. This is Russian President Putin. We are collecting all the evidence where he is related to the crime of aggression, to crimes against humanity and to the crimes of genocide. But we cannot openly, while he is president, take and bring charges," the prosecutor general said on the air of the Ukrainian telethon on Friday evening.
Under functional immunity, according to Venediktova, is the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister.
"But this does not mean that we do not collect evidence of their criminal activities – we do it all," the prosecutor general said.
She also said the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office is counting on the International Criminal Court in the context of the possible prosecution of these individuals.
"I am making a big bet and hoping for the International Criminal Court," the prosecutor general said.
She said Ukrainian law enforcement officers have been investigating the genocide case since the first day of the Russian aggression, there are already two suspects regarding calls for genocide. "When we are ready to come out with the qualification of genocide with specific individuals whom we will accuse of this, you will immediately know about it… As for the genocide, both Ukrainian justice can move, and the ICC," Venediktova said.
