Ministers and officials from dozens of countries are gathering in the Netherlands on Tuesday for a conference on restoring justice in Ukraine, as the war sparked by Russian aggression drags into its third bloody year.
Speakers include the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, who issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and military officers involved in the war.
“The Netherlands believes that it is extremely important that truth and justice be achieved, both for Ukraine and for all victims of Russian aggression,” the Dutch government said in a statement.
During the conference, the recording of the damage caused by the Russian invasion will officially begin a procedure that will allow people to claim compensation for damage, loss and injury suffered as a result of the invasion.
The Council of Europe, whose members established the register last May, said in a statement that Tuesday's launch will focus on claims for damage to or destruction of residential property. It is estimated that 300,000 to 600,000 claims are expected.
The Hague-based Register of Damages Due to the Russian Federation's Aggression against Ukraine (RD4U) aims to soon admit more claims, including those related to damage or destruction of critical infrastructure in Ukraine. The registration will not pay any claims, but will be a stepping stone to an international compensation mechanism that has not yet been established.
The Hague is at the center of efforts to bring justice to Ukraine. It is home to the International Criminal Court and the International Center for the Prosecution of Crimes of Aggression against Ukraine, and the Dutch government has offered to host a special tribunal for crimes of aggression against Ukraine. The ICC investigates crimes in Ukraine but does not have jurisdiction to prosecute crimes of aggression in the conflict.
