Beth Van Schaack | Ambassador at Large for Global Criminal Justice, State Department: “This review underpins the assessment that the secretary announced today, that Russian forces are indeed committing war crimes in Ukraine.”
Jimmie Johnson: THE STATE DEPARTMENT — OFFICIALLY CONFIRMING THE CLAIMS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN MADE LAST WEEK — THAT RUSSIA IS COMMITTING WAR CRIMES IN ITS INVASION OF UKRAINE.
BLINKEN RELEASED A STATEMENT WEDNESDAY — SAYING THE ASSESSMENT IS BASED ON A REVIEW OF SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED OVER THE LAST MONTH.
TWO NOTABLE EVENTS BLINKEN CITED IN HIS STATEMENT HAPPENED IN MARIUPOL — WHERE A MATERNITY HOSPITAL AND A THEATRE WERE BOMBED.
ON WEDNESDAY — THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAID THE U-S WOULD WORK WITH OTHERS TO PROSECUTE OFFENDERS.
Beth Van Schaack | Ambassador at Large for Global Criminal Justice, State Department: “With any alleged crime, ultimately, it will be for a court of law to determine individual criminal responsibility who is directly responsible for these particular cases. The US government will continue to track reports coming out of Ukraine of war crimes, and we will share this information with our friends and allies and with international and multilateral… institutions as appropriate.”
Jimmie Johnson: NEITHER RUSSIA NOR THE U-S RECOGNIZES THE AUTHORITY OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT — WHICH COULD MAKE SEEKING ACCOUNTABILITY DIFFICULT.
THE U-S COULD HELP GATHER EVIDENCE — OR PROVIDE SUPPORT TO A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ESTABLISHED BY THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL.