On 13-14 May 2025, at the annual 134th Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Luxembourg, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Artjoms Uršuļskis, underlined Latvia’s unwavering support to Ukraine and for the establishment of a Special International Tribunal to hold Russia accountable for its crime of aggression against Ukraine.
At the opening of the session, the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine, Iryna Mudra, handed over a letter to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, with a request to initiate the process of establishing a Special Tribunal under the auspices of the Council of Europe. This past 9 May in Lviv, EU Foreign Ministers and senior officials from other countries, in the presence of the EU high Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, had expressed political support for the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. It will be an important mechanism of international law to ensure accountability for Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine.
In his remarks to the 134th ministerial session, Artjoms Uršuļskis, recalled Latvia’s unwavering support to Ukraine. He confirmed that Latvia advocated for the creation of a Special International Tribunal to bring Russia to account.
The session saw the adoption of several decisions, including on the Council of Europe’s support to Ukraine in standing up to Russia’s persistent full-scale aggression, and pledging support to Ukraine for as long as necessary.
Heads of delegations welcomed the Council of Europe’s increased focus on environmental protection, recognising the challenges posed to human rights by pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. The Committee of Ministers adopted a new Strategy and Action Plan on the Environment, as well as the Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law.
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, presented the initiative for a New Democratic Pact for Europe. This will enable new solutions and approaches, stronger institutions and deeper civic engagement to protect shared democratic values in Europe. Artjoms Uršuļskis confirmed the need for new solutions given the tendencies of democratic backsliding in Europe.
In conclusion of the session, Luxembourg handed over the Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers to Malta for the term from May to November 2025.
Further information
Since January 2023, the Core Group on the Establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine have been discussion legal solutions to preventing impunity for the crime of aggression against Ukraine and creating of a Special Tribunal with the broadest interregional support. On 9 May 2025 in Lviv, Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, together with members of delegation representing 35 countries, expressed support for the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.
