The Committee on Legal Affairs of the Council of Europe approved the resolution proposed by the chairman of the Albanian Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha, for the confiscation of Russian assets and their use to repair the damages caused by the war in Ukraine.
This paves the way for the General Assembly on the final verdict.
From Paris, Basha said that this is a message to anyone who commits aggression, that they will bear the financial costs of destruction.
A few days ago, the use of Russian assets for the needs of Ukraine was also requested by US President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
In the draft resolution proposed by Lulzim Basha, it is stated that “the responsibility for the crimes and damages caused in Ukraine by Russia’s unprovoked aggression lies with Russian President Vladimir Putin and he must pay for it”.
Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of war crimes.
According to international law, the Russian Federation is obligated to compensate Ukraine, its citizens, enterprises, and government for damages caused by Russia’s unlawful acts.
These obligations determine the duty of third countries to ensure that the sovereign assets of the Russian Federation under their jurisdictions are placed for the benefit of Ukraine and to establish an international compensation tribunal to ensure that damages caused by Russia are compensated in accordance with international standards, jurisprudence, and established principles of accountability.
Through this resolution published on the official website of the Council of Europe, which is supported by representatives of all parliamentary groups, the following is requested: the creation of an international fund where Russian assets are deposited to pay for infrastructure projects in Ukraine; the transfer of frozen Russian capital to the international fund; the establishment of a compensation tribunal to adjudicate, in accordance with established judicial norms, the claims presented by Ukraine on behalf of individuals, entities, and governmental bodies, or directly by its individuals and entities, as will be provided for by the tribunal’s rules.
