Latvia calls for establishment of special tribunal to investigate Russia’s war in Ukraine

By Busra Nur Cakmak

ANKARA (AA) – Latvia on Wednesday called for the establishment of a special international tribunal “to investigate the responsibility of the Russian state in the crime of aggression.”

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Egils Levits said “impunity means an invitation to further crimes, therefore, the aggressor must be held accountable.”

“Starting off a war of aggression, the gravest violation of the charter of the United Nations and international law,” said Levits, adding that “after the war, Russia will have to pay reparations to Ukraine for damages. The special tribunal could be part of an international reparations mechanism.”

“Special tribunal could be established on the basis of a resolution of the General Assembly by another international organization or a group of like-minded states,” he suggested.

The Latvian president said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s declaration of partial mobilization is a “sign of desperation,” and noted: “Blitzkrieg envisaged by President Putin has turned into a long nightmare.”

He also said Latvia will not recognize the legitimacy of “illegal referenda in the coming days on the annexation of the occupied territories to the Russian Federation.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Putin announced a partial mobilization of reservists in Russia, calling up 300,000 reservists to join the army for probable deployment to Ukraine, where it started a "special military operation" in February.

He also vowed to use “all means at its disposal” if Russia’s territorial integrity is in danger, which was widely interpreted as a nuclear warning to the West.