More names have been added to the list of Russians sanctioned by New Zealand over the Ukraine invasion, as the Prime Minister says the country must answer for evidence of war crimes
Russian war crimes in Ukraine must be investigated by an international tribunal, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says, as the Government announces another wave of sanctions against those tied to the invasion.
The retreat of Russian forces from Kyiv has led to evidence of atrocities against Ukrainian civilians in nearby areas, with corpses lying in the street and mass graves in the town of Bucha.
International NGO Human Rights Watch says it has documented several cases of war crimes against civilians in Ukraine, including rape, executions, and looting.
Speaking at her weekly post-Cabinet press conference on Monday, Ardern said: “The reports of Ukrainian civilians who have been killed, raped and severely wounded by Russian troops is beyond reprehensible.
“Russia must answer to the world for what it has done. It goes without saying that these atrocities are against international law.”
New Zealand, alongside other nations, had referred the situation to the International Criminal Court and would support prosecutors in their investigations to hold Russia to account.
Asked whether she would call Russian leader Vladimir Putin a war criminal as US President Joe Biden had, Ardern said it would be for international authorities to make that ruling.
“I'm not the judge in the International Criminal Court … but every piece of evidence points to the fact that there are war crimes being committed by Russia in Ukraine at the hands of the president Vladimir Putin.”
While the expulsion of Russia’s ambassador remained an option under consideration, the Government had been focusing on “far more powerful tools”.
There would be more action on sanctions, imports, and support for international deployments.
“Through our sanctions, we are working with the international community to put real pressure on those supporting Putin and his regime, and send a clear message that this illegal invasion cannot continue, and that the brutality and inhumane acts from Russian troops cannot be tolerated.” – Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta
Ardern’s remarks came as the Government announced the implementation of further sanctions against 36 people, comprising Russian oligarchs and their close family members.
Among the oligarchs being targeted is outgoing Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich, whose close ties to Putin have led to his involvement in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Fellow billionaire oligarch Alisher Usmanov – one of the world’s 100 wealthiest people according to Forbes – has also been sanctioned, along with Yury Kovalchuk, who has been described as Putin’s “personal banker”.
Alexander Abramov, whose ties to New Zealand have led to calls for his name to be included, remains off the list (as is the case for other countries which have taken action against oligarchs).
In a statement announcing the sanctions, Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said the list included some of Russia’s richest business people, as well as the chairs and chief executives of the country’s biggest companies.
“Through our sanctions, we are working with the international community to put real pressure on those supporting Putin and his regime, and send a clear message that this illegal invasion cannot continue, and that the brutality and inhumane acts from Russian troops cannot be tolerated.”
Mahuta said officials continued to work as quickly as possible to identify new individuals and entities meriting sanctions, and more measures would be announced in the coming weeks.
