(Bucharest) Romania announced Monday the opening of an investigation into possible crimes against humanity in Ukraine, following the invasion launched by Russia on February 24.
In a press release, the Attorney General’s office explains that it acts on the basis of criminal law which applies to crimes perpetrated against any Romanian citizen on foreign territory.
It also invokes the principle of “universal jurisdiction” which allows the prosecution of the suspects of the most serious acts wherever they were committed.
“The consequences of the attack are particularly serious, with heavy losses among the civilian population, especially children,” explains the prosecution.
“At the same time”, he continues, “due to the psychological trauma caused by the military attack of the Russian Federation, millions of civilians left the territory of Ukraine and became refugees, including in Romania”.
In a country criticized for the slowness and corruption of its judicial system, this decision could ultimately only have symbolic value, testifying to Bucharest’s support for its Ukrainian neighbor.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) opened an investigation into the situation in Ukraine in early March, after receiving the green light from around forty states including Romania.
Russia systematically denies all the abuses of which its troops are accused: bombardments of civilians, summary executions, rapes, etc. And she in turn accuses Ukraine of war crimes.
