Council of Europe Approves Management Structure for Special Tribunal on Russia's Aggression

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has approved a pivotal agreement establishing the management structure for a Special Tribunal aimed at prosecuting senior Russian political and military leaders for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. Thirty-seven states backed this Enlarged Partial Agreement during a ministerial meeting in Chișinău, Moldova, marking it as the third founding document of the new judicial mechanism. This tribunal is designed to address jurisdictional gaps in the International Criminal Court, which cannot currently prosecute the crime of aggression in this context. The agreement creates the administrative and governance framework necessary for funding, management, and institutional operations, allowing both member states and third countries to participate. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the decision as a point of no return, emphasizing that the tribunal places Vladimir Putin and other officials on a path toward accountability. While trials will not begin immediately, the Management Committee will oversee budget approval, official elections, and strategic policies. The tribunal complements existing international justice efforts by focusing specifically on leadership crimes involving the violation of the UN Charter through armed force.