Statement by H.E. Mr Andrejs Pildegovičs at the Arria-meeting on
“Ensuring accountability for atrocities committed in Ukraine”
27 April 2022
Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,
I thank the Permanent Missions of Albania and France in cooperation with Ukraine for organising this meeting. I also thank the distinguished briefers. Latvia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and the Group of Friends on Accountability.
Following the horrors of Kwibuka and Srebrenica, the UN family has repeatedly vowed that it would never again avert its gaze when mass atrocities are committed. Since 24th of February, we have travelled back in grim history to witness the mass atrocities that have been committed in Bucha, Irpin and Marionpole. In two months, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has recorded over 5,000 civilian casualties in Ukraine, out of which over 2,000 civilians have been killed and almost 3,000 injured. However, we believe that actual numbers of causalities are a lot higher.
We are still deeply shocked and questioning how does all this fit into today’s world and modern, rules-based international society. The innocent civilians of Ukraine have been exposed to indiscriminate killings, use of explosive weapons, missiles and air strikes, attacks on civilian infrastructure. This has left a quarter of the population of Ukraine displaced, and led to a severe humanitarian crisis. We are gravely concerned about allegations of conflict-related sexual violence, behaviour unworthy of human beings, perpetrated by the Russian armed forces particularly against women and girls. While Russia’s economy is plummeting due to the most severe sanctions in history being imposed on Russia because of its war against Ukraine and atrocities against its people, it seems that the main export good of Russia continues to be the human rights violations. We have to stop that export just like the export of Russia’s coal, oil and gas.
Latvia reiterates its strong condemnation of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression in Ukraine and expresses full solidarity with Ukraine and its people. Russia’s actions facilitated by Belarus require accountability for the grave violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law perpetrated in and against Ukraine, and every legal avenue available must and will be used to hold the aggressor to account.
Latvia has engaged in several accountability mechanisms to address the mass atrocities being committed in Ukraine. Notably, Latvia has taken a decision to participate as a third party in the case relating to allegations of genocide brought by Ukraine against Russia before the International Court of Justice. Latvia is one of forty-three States Parties to the International Criminal Court (ICC) that have referred the situation in Ukraine to the Prosecutor of the ICC enabling the Prosecutor to proceed with investigations into allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide committed on any part of the territory of Ukraine by any person. We have also nominated national experts and provided voluntary contributions of one hundred thousand euros to the ICC in addressing the challenges the ICC is facing in the conduct of these and other investigations. We particularly welcome the decision of the Office of Prosecutor to join the Joint Investigation Team on international crimes committed in Ukraine.
Last but not least, in exercising the universal jurisdiction, the State Security Service of Latvia has launched criminal proceedings for war crimes and crimes against humanity and peace committed by Russia’s armed forces in Ukraine to obtain and document evidence. We likewise welcome the establishment of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine to investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, and related crimes in the context of the Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
We are of the firm view that the rules-based international order benefits us all. It provides a set of rules encouraging peaceful, predictable, and cooperative behaviour among the UN Member States. We must continue to stand for fundamental principles and values undertaken by the UN Charter. Latvia is committed to working together with other Member States, key stakeholders, institutions and civil society to address the accountability for international crimes perpetrated in Ukraine. I thank you.