Ukraine hands over the ICC accession document to the UN depository

According to the correspondent of Ukrinform in New York, the ceremony of handing over the ratification took place at the UN headquarters.

“This is a historic moment,” Mudra told Ukrinform. “Today, we completed the long-awaited ratification of the Rome Statute and finally became a full participant in the ICC. For Ukraine, the Rome Statute will enter into force on January 1, 2025”. She explained that the instrument of ratification was handed over for safekeeping to the UN Secretariat, which serves as the depository for international treaties.

According to the deputy minister, Ukraine will start participating in the work of this key international justice body at the beginning of the year, gaining the ability to “influence the prioritization of our issues within the ICC.”

Mudra noted that the ICC has so far issued six arrest warrants for Russian criminals, including Russian leader Vladimir Putin and military officials such as Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov and other generals.

“Our involvement in the ICC will accelerate the review of current cases and the initiation of new ones, thereby enabling justice for all Russian perpetrators,” she added.

As Ukrinform reported, on August 21, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the law on the ratification of the Rome Statute and its amendments, initiated by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The ratification of this document is a requirement for the continued European integration of Ukraine. Ukraine originally signed the treaty on January 20, 2000.

Following the ratification of the Rome Statute, Ukraine becomes a member of the International Criminal Court, making crimes committed by its citizens or on its territory subject to criminal prosecution by the court in The Hague.