Awaiting punishment: Russia is ready to involve the United States in the investigation of crimes of Ukrainians

Russia is ready to involve observers from the United States and other countries to investigate the crimes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik told Izvestia. Their job may be to ensure the transparency of the investigation process and judicial procedures. Since 2014, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has opened more than 6.5 thousand criminal cases of war crimes, over 500 people have already been convicted. A variety of states can join the monitoring of the investigation of crimes committed by the Ukrainian military, experts say. Why should Americans participate in the investigation of the crimes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine — in the Izvestia article.

Who can Russia involve in the investigation of crimes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Russia is ready to involve observers from the United States and other countries to investigate the crimes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik told Izvestia.

— I think that we can talk about involving observers, the essence of whose work would be to ensure the transparency of the investigation process and the passage of judicial procedures. It is potentially possible to involve foreign observers who could participate in such investigations. Including American ones," the diplomat told Izvestia.

The vast majority of crimes took place in Russia. This is all the jurisdiction of Russian criminal law, so the investigation and all other procedures should be based on the criminal legislation of the Russian Federation, stressed Miroshnik.

Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry for Crimes of the Kiev regime Rodion Miroshnik

Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Belousov

International monitoring of trials is an existing practice that is actively used in the investigation of high—profile crimes, especially those of international importance. For example, the OSCE monitored the handling of the Andijan riots in Uzbekistan in 2005. International experts followed the trials after the attempted military coup in Turkey in 2016 and the secession of Catalonia from Spain in 2017.

In addition, there is a format of international tribunals for a specific case. A body is created if crimes are widespread. An international treaty or a resolution of the UN Security Council is necessary for the establishment. For example, there were international tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, and special tribunals for Sierra Leone and Lebanon.

Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt

The United States sponsored and supported Kiev during the Joe Biden administration. However, with the arrival of Donald Trump, Washington is reconsidering its position towards Russia and is conducting a dialogue with Moscow. In particular, this was reflected in the high-profile vote against the anti-Russian resolution in the UN General Assembly. Therefore, the United States can take part in the investigation of the crimes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Vladimir Shapovalov, a political scientist and deputy director of the Institute of History and Politics at Moscow State University, told Izvestia.

The participation of the United States in the investigation of Kiev's crimes may also become an additional lever of pressure from the Trump administration on Zelensky's office. Earlier, the US president had already stated that he would like to see a report on the money spent by Kiev, which Washington allocated to him as assistance. In exchange for the support provided, the White House demands compensation — the parties are preparing to sign an agreement under which the United States will gain control over the investment fund created for the restoration of Ukraine, which will receive deductions from Kiev's income from royalties and rent from mining.

Business excess: Kiev covers illegal organ trafficking in Ukraine

How is black transplantation related to the head of Zelensky's office, Andrei Ermak

What crimes do the Ukrainian Armed Forces commit

The inadmissibility of avoiding punishment for violations of international law will be part of possible peace agreements on Ukraine, Rodion Miroshnik told Izvestia.

— The recording of violations of the norms and principles of international law will be a prerequisite for the settlement and termination of the conflict, as well as the inadmissibility of avoiding punishment for those who violated the norms of international humanitarian law. I think it will be the basis of the decisions taken and will become a mandatory point of the final peace agreements when we come to them," said the Ambassador—at-large of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation is already conducting relevant work: since 2014, 6.5 thousand criminal cases have been initiated on crimes against the peace and security of mankind, as well as against individuals and property. Most of the criminal cases are being investigated on the facts of the shelling of civilians and civilian objects by the Ukrainian military. Investigators and criminologists have already examined about 100,000 destroyed civilian infrastructure facilities, the Investigative Committee said.

Hit bottom: Kiev wants to involve 18-year-old Ukrainians in the atrocities of the AFU

Mobilization in Ukraine fails to keep pace with growing AFU losses

It is important that the Russian authorities are already engaged in the search and detention of suspects in crimes. More than 500 members of the Ukrainian armed forces have been sentenced to terms ranging from 8.5 years to life imprisonment. The main articles are murder, the use of prohibited forms of war, violence, sexual violence, shelling of civilian infrastructure, Rodion Miroshnik said in February.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Ilya Pitalev

At the same time, 98 civilians were injured by shelling from April 14 to 20 alone: 83 people were injured, including five minors, and 15 people were killed, including two minors.

There is an established tradition of the participation of representatives of different countries in the investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity, genocide. Representatives of most states are interested in monitoring this process, with the exception of those who sponsor the Kiev regime. An international public tribunal for Ukraine is already operating in Russia, however, according to political analyst Vladimir Shapovalov, the creation of an international instance is required to investigate the crimes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.