The ministers of justice of the Council of Europe member countries met in Riga. The participants discussed Russian military aggression against Ukraine. In conclusion, the ministers adopted the Riga Principles declaration on Russian responsibility for harming Ukrainian families and the state. The declaration regulates the provision of compensation to all victims of war. For this purpose, the register of losses will work, which fixes the destruction caused by the Kremlin aggression. With the help of the state, the European organisations, the ICC and non-government human rights organisations, Russia will be punished for its war, crimes against humanity and genocide. Particularly for crimes against children and women, as they are the most vulnerable to war.
The Council of Europe has strongly condemned the actions of the Russian government and soldiers.
"Justice must be done for all victims and to prevent future war crimes. To this end, we support the investigation and evidence-gathering efforts of the Ukrainian authorities, other national authorities and the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court," the ministers of justice wrote.
Riga considered Russian soldiers' human rights violations serious crimes: forcible detention of people, abduction of children and their placement for adoption in Russian families.
European ministers called on all authorities to continue recording and investigating crimes, to search for and rescue the Ukrainian child prisoners.
