The significant challenges Ukraine faces in its pursuit of justice amidst a full-scale war, the role of the international community, and the importance of documenting war crimes were key topics addressed by Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the International Bar Association (IBA), in an interview with the news agency Ukrinform.

Key points from Dr. Ellis's interview:

• International judicial processes take time: According to Dr. Ellis, Ukrainians must be prepared for the fact that proceedings in the International Criminal Court and other institutions may take years. However, he emphasized that war crimes have no statute of limitations.
• Documenting crimes is critical: Ukrainians are already showing a high level of engagement in recording crimes, using tools like the eyeWitness to Atrocities app. This technology ensures the creation of reliable, court-admissible evidence.
• The establishment of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression remains a priority: Despite potential political hurdles, Dr. Ellis underscored the importance of creating an international tribunal to hold Russia’s leadership accountable.
• Genocide in Ukraine: Dr. Ellis pointed out that there is legal grounds to accuse Russia of genocide, citing the forced deportation of Ukrainian children and the rhetoric of Russian leaders aimed at erasing Ukrainian identity.

"No other situation demands accountability as urgently as Russia’s war against Ukraine," emphasized Mark Ellis.

The full interview (in Ukrainian) is available here