Images from Ukrainian forces have found mass graves and evidence of civilians being bound and then shot dead in the town, Bucha, just recently after Russian troops have retreated from the city. President Volodymyr Zelensky states that what Russia has done is "genocide. The elimination of the whole nation." Russia has targeted and destroyed apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, civilian vehicles, shopping centers, ambulances, and more. They have also used cluster bombs, which have been banned for use, that have hit civilian areas of Kharkiv.
Today, the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is responsible for upholding the rules of war. However, Russia is a part of the ICJ's five permanent members and has the power to veto any proposal to sanction it. The ICJ also cannot prosecute individuals such as Putin. The ICC investigates and prosecutes individual war criminals who are not before the courts of individual states. Regarding Ukraine, investigators will look at the past and present allegations against Russia and can issue an arrest warrant to bring the individual to trial. However, there is no police force, so the court must rely on the individual state to arrest its suspects.
There is also a debate if other leaders should be prosecuted. In one Ukraine report, a Russian commander instructed two soldiers to take out two civilians and shoot them dead. The two soldiers' objected and did not carry out the command. This asks the question, who should be prosecuted? President Joe Biden has already stated that "Putin is a war criminal" and should be held accountable.
By: Genevieve Weiss
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60690688
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