A Scottish MP has urged the Prime Minister to back a special tribunal to investigate Russian aggression in Ukraine.
SNP MP Stewart McDonald has written to Rishi Sunak to ask the UK Government to follow the lead of international communities such as France, the Netherlands and the EU Commission to assess estimates of at least 50,000 war crimes by Vladimir Putin’s government.
In his letter, the Glasgow South MP said he had recently met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s working group to discuss the tribunal which would prosecute the acts of aggression.
He told the Prime Minister: “It is estimated that at least 50,000 investigations into crimes committed in this war are ongoing and yet there is no appropriate mechanism by which Russian leaders can be held to account for their role in such horrors.
“The establishment of a special tribunal is therefore vital if we are to achieve justice for Ukraine at an international level, and if we are to facilitate adequate reparations for those who have lost and continue to lose so much to the scourge of war.”
Mr McDonald added the measure would also act as a “significant deterrent” to other authoritarian regimes from behaving in a similar way in future.
“The importance of which must not be overlooked given the now obvious consequences of inaction in response to Russia invading eastern Ukraine and Crimea in 2014,” he added.
“The French government has pledged its support for a special tribunal, as has the Netherlands and the EU Commission.
“I am therefore hoping you can clarify the UK Government’s position and respond positively in support of Ukraine’s mission to secure a special tribunal for the crimes of aggression.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: “There is growing evidence that appalling atrocities have been committed during Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine.
“We have been actively supporting Ukraine’s own domestic judicial system, investigations and prosecutions, as well as the investigation underway by the International Criminal Court.
“We are of course carefully considering other proposals for mechanisms to hold Russia to account for its actions in Ukraine.”
