The President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola opened the exhibition Russian War Crimes at the European Parliament. A collection of images that display the atrocities of war in Ukraine and the cruelty of Putin's regime. In her speech, President Metsola said that all war criminals must be brought to justice.
© European Union | The President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola opening the exhibition Russian War Crimes at the Ukrainian Civil Society Hub at the European Parliament
Dear Prime Minister Shmyhal, Dear Commissioner Reynders, Dear Ambassadors, Dear Andrii Yermak, Dear Victor Pinchuk, Distinguished guests,
It is a pleasure for me to welcome you today to the European Parliament’s Station Europe for the opening of the exhibition on Russian War Crimes by the Pinchuk Art Center. Our Station Europe is a symbolical building. It bridges Europe to the House of European democracy. Since March, it has also been home to the Ukrainian Civil Society Hub. A place where Ukrainians can meet and coordinate activities in support of Ukraine, and in support for democracy.
I would like to start by congratulating the organisers for putting together this heart-breaking - yet important - exhibition. A collection of images that display the atrocities of war in Ukraine and the cruelty of Putin’s regime. The destruction, civilian suffering, the deadening silence that follows the detonation of bombs, the mass killings in Bucha and other Ukrainian cities will leave no visitor indifferent. These photographs bear testimony to the sacrifice of Ukrainians, in the name of our collective freedom.
In March, the International Court of Justice declared Putin’s war illegal and ordered the immediate suspension of its military operations in the territory of Ukraine. This order has binding effect on Russia under international law.
In March as well, the European Court of Human Rights called on the Russian government to stop all military attacks against civilians and civilian objects and to ensure the immediate safety of medical establishments and personnel in Ukraine. Russia’s cowardly response was to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. Ukraine did not step down. Instead, it lodged a formal request to the Court against Russia, a rare procedure designed to establish human rights violations.
Prime Minister Shmyhal, I want to assure you that the European Parliament will not turn a blind eye to these horrific acts on your country, on your people. We stand firmly with our Ukrainian friends and will do whatever it takes to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.
This House will continue to be one of the biggest supporters for setting up a special international tribunal to hold Putin, Lukashenka, Russian political and military leaders, commanders and soldiers - every single perpetrator - accountable for their acts of aggression. And we also stand ready to provide all the necessary human and budgetary resources and administrative, investigative and logistical support to this effect.
We fully endorse the investigation launched by the International Criminal Court Prosecutor into war crimes and crimes against humanity by Putin’s regime. We also believe that assistance should be provided to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General for the collection of evidence.
Putin wants a future where iron curtains are drawn closed, where might is right, and where personal liberty and dignity are denied. With their actions, it is clear that Russia wants a return to a past that we had consigned to history books. A past where Europe’s geographical integrity and Europe’s freedom to choose with whom to cooperate and how to integrate is called into question. The real target is democracy, freedom and truth. Our way of life is seen as a threat to autocracy. That is a past we can never ever return to.
We will bring these criminals to justice.
For Ukraine. For Europe.
Slava Ukraini! The President's speech in Ukrainian can be found here.