The Ukrainian Bar Association has published its second report on the project aimed at monitoring war crimes trials in Ukraine amidst Russia’s ongoing offensive. This initiative, carried out in collaboration with the International Bar Association and its Human Rights Institute, targets the protection of seven essential rights during these trials, including the right to access court, publicity, and timely trials. No violations of these rights were reported.
While recognizing the progress in providing reasoned verdicts and ensuring trials within a reasonable timeline, the report highlighted the need for a unified database for war crimes proceedings and recommended enhanced education and training for judges. Additionally, it called for better support for lawyers, particularly those representing clients in absentia, advocating for campaigns and psychological assistance.
The report also cautioned against the use of the Rome Statute as a primary source for defining war crimes under the Ukrainian criminal code, emphasizing that such references could conflict with Article 438 of the domestic legislation. Instead, the statute should serve as supplementary documentation.
This second phase of the investigation, covering December 2023 to May 2024, involved monitoring over 600 cases across various Ukrainian regions. The findings were presented in June 2024.