By KYIV. Sept 14 (Interfax-Ukraine) – A field office of the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened in Kyiv on Thursday to strengthen cooperation between Ukraine and the ICC in investigation of war crimes committed by Russia, Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andriy Kostin has said.
“I am glad to welcome my friend [ICC Prosecutor] Karim Khan in Kyiv again. Today, we are writing together the history of the fight for justice… Another step has been taken for the further strengthening of our partnership – the so-called field office of the International Criminal Court opened in Ukraine. This is the largest representative office of the ICC outside The Hague,” he said at a joint press briefing with Khan in Kyiv on Thursday.
According to the Ukrainian prosecutor general, the work of the field office of the ICC will help to strengthen cooperation between Ukraine and the ICC.
“It will enhance effectiveness and timeliness of response to crimes which Russian continues to commit against Ukraine and Ukrainians every day,” Kostin said.
The prosecutor general noted the uniqueness of cooperation between Ukraine and the ICC, adding that in the majority of armed conflicts the governments of the countries, where international crimes were committed, were unable or reluctant to cooperate with investigators of the ICC.
“In the case of Ukraine, this is full-fledged partnership. Our prosecutors work side-by-side with ICC experts almost on a daily basis… We are fully open and transparent, we provide all necessary materials, access to crime scenes, evidence and testimony,” he said.
“The office which we have opened this morning is not only an office of the ICC prosecutor. This is an ICC office here in Kyiv, in Ukraine… We are here because we have work that must be done,” Khan said.
“If we are together with the Prosecutor General’s Office, if we really want to try to find out the truth, if we equally investigate and collect evidence, then the truth will be established,” he said.
The prosecutor of the ICC stressed that if evidence is collected in line with evidence standards, if its is authentic and acceptable, then the judges of the ICC who have proved their reputation of independent judges will issue their just decision.
