Council of Europe to play key role in holding Russia accountable for aggression crimes – Secretary General

The Council of Europe will play a key role in holding Russia accountable for the crime of aggression. 

According to Ukrinform, Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, said at the Summit of the Future that the Council of Europe shares a strong commitment to the UN's pursuit of peace and contributes to achieving sustainable development goals. "But the Council of Europe also has its own goals," he emphasised. "Our current priority is to support Ukraine, which is one of our member states."

He noted that the Register of Damage, which collects contributions for losses and damage caused by the Russian Federation due to its aggressive war, became fully operational earlier in 2024. "This is a first tool, but it is absolutely necessary as a step toward an international mechanism for compensation."

Berset highlighted that the Council of Europe would play "a central, a key role when it comes to any tribunal aiming to judge the crime of aggression". 

"We are going to work together to implement a plan of action for resilience, recovery and reconstruction in Ukraine," Berset said. 

Berset emphasised that the European Court of Human Rights "is the only international jurisdiction that, as of now, has ruled on human rights violations in the context of the war."

Alain Berset, a Swiss politician and former president of Switzerland, was elected as the new Secretary General of the Council of Europe by its Parliamentary Assembly on 25 June.

His predecessor, former Croatian Foreign Minister Marija Pejčinović Burić, decided not to run for a second term.

Immediately after being elected, Berset said that supporting Ukraine would be his priority while in office.