Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

War Crimes Trials: Ukraine

Thursday 6 July 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK sent their most experienced international judge to train over 100 Ukrainian judges.
  • Next week, a delegation of Ukrainian officials will visit the UK for prosecutorial training.
  • The Ukrainian prosecutor general's team is currently investigating and prosecuting 92,000 open cases.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Patricia Gibson SNP
Ukraine
Context

The MP is concerned about the need for support to ensure fair and effective trials for war crimes committed against Ukraine.

Question

Whether she has taken recent steps to support Ukraine's judiciary in its conduct of war crimes trials. We have sent our most experienced international judge, Sir Howard Morrison, to train more than 100 Ukrainian judges. I met some of them earlier this year in Kyiv with him. Next week, we have a delegation of Ukrainian officials in the UK for prosecutorial training.

Answer from Victoria Prentis

We have sent our most experienced international judge, Sir Howard Morrison, to train more than 100 Ukrainian judges. I met some of them earlier this year in Kyiv with him. Next week, we have a delegation of Ukrainian officials in the UK for prosecutorial training.

Answered
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Q2 Patricia Gibson SNP
Ukraine
Context

The MP is concerned about practical steps to support the International Centre for the Prosecution of Crime of Aggression and gather evidence of war crimes committed in Ukraine.

Question

In addition to what the Attorney General has already said, what further practical steps will she take to support the centre, and assist and support international efforts to gather evidence of war crimes committed in Ukraine? The International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression was launched in The Hague this week with the backing of the EU, the US and the International Criminal Court, collecting data, interviewing victims and building evidence files to assist both international and national prosecutors to bring criminals to justice for the invasion of Ukraine.

Answer from Victoria Prentis

I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I would be delighted to pick this up with her outside the Chamber if she would like more detail on the work we are doing. I work very closely with the Ukrainian prosecutor general, Andriy Kostin. His team are currently investigating and prosecuting 92,000 open war crimes cases during a conflict—something that is unprecedented. We are providing help at every level, including prosecutorial and evidence-gathering help. We are a keen part of the atrocity crimes advisory group. We have been training judges. We are keen to help with the wider accountability question on the international stage as well. At all levels, we are absolutely determined to help our friends in Ukraine.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked for specific practical steps but received a general commitment and overview of ongoing support without concrete new actions or timelines.

How: Would Be Delighted To Pick This Up With Her Outside The Chamber If She Would Like More Detail On The Work We Are Doing

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