Interpol unblocks ways for Ukraine to use its tools in investigating war crimes: what is involved

On Monday, February 17, it became known that Interpol would soon unblock the use of its tools for Ukraine. Specifically, this concerns the investigation of war crimes committed by the aggressor country.

This decision was made as a result of a conference of heads of Interpol's National Central Bureaus (NCBs). It was held in Lyon (France).

"Such a fundamental decision for Ukraine was announced during a meeting between Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza and the head of the Department of International Police Cooperation of the National Police of Ukraine Vitalii Kasap," the National Police website said.

It is noted that the three-day meeting was attended by 310 law enforcement officers from 150 countries. The NCB, as the main contact between Interpol and national law enforcement agencies in 196 member countries, had unique opportunities to share knowledge, experience, and best practices in the fight against transnational crime.

"As a result of the painstaking and lengthy work of the Ukrainian side to justify the need to restore the possibility of using the organization's tools in cases of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, which was blocked by the previous Interpol Secretary General, Ukraine and other countries of the world have finally gained such an opportunity. The relevant explanation will be provided to all countries this week," added Vitalii Kasap.

For reference

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Interpol General Secretariat has not processed requests from Ukraine to investigate war crimes, citing Article 3 of the organization's Charter, which prohibits Interpol from interfering in the investigation of military cases. Therefore, revisiting this issue was fundamentally important for our country to establish justice and bring Russian war criminals to justice.

At the conference, we managed to hold important talks with representatives of European countries and achieved broad support for the initiative of the Interpol National Bureau in Ukraine to re-elect Ukraine for a second consecutive term as a member of the Interpol European Committee.

Ukraine's membership in the Committee expires this year, and four new members will be elected in May-June during the next Interpol European Conference.

As a reminder, Russia is constantly committing war crimes on the territory of Ukraine. The most recent of these was the aggressor's attack on the Chornobyl nuclear power plant on February 14.

As OBOZ.UA wrote:

– Russian "Shahed" hit the sarcophagus over the fourth unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on the night of February 14.

– President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the occupiers' kamikaze drone was flying at an altitude of 85 meters. Radars could not see it, and this indicates a targeted attack by Russia.

– The SSU confirmed that the "Shahed" that attacked the nuclear power plant was equipped with an explosive warhead.

– On February 15, the Ministry of the Environment said that the radiation background at the Chornobyl NPP is monitored around the clock, and there is no threat to the public.

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