Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act Sponsors React to UN Findings of War Crimes in Ukraine
WASHINGTON – On September 23, 2022, the United Nations’ Independent International Commission of
Inquiry on Ukraine released findings that Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine. After visiting 27
towns and interviewing 150 witnesses, the commission reported that Russian
troops have committed brutal executions, indiscriminate attacks and sexual and
gender-based violence, including against children during their invasion of
Ukraine.
In response to alleged war crimes in
Ukraine earlier this year, Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck
Grassley (R-Iowa), Democratic Whip Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Rep. David N.
Cicilline (D-R.I.) and Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) introduced the Justice
for Victims of War Crimes Act to update the current United States war crimes statute to enable
prosecution of war criminals under jurisdiction of the U.S. courts, regardless
of the location or targets of their alleged atrocities. The legislation also
extends the statute of limitations for war crimes discovered years after they
occur.
“This disturbing report confirms that
Russian troops are carrying out heinous attacks on innocent Ukrainians as they
continue waging an unjust war. These inhumane and unprovoked crimes, conducted
under Putin’s watch, cannot go unpunished. The Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act is needed to send a strong
message that people who commit war crimes are not welcome here in the U.S. and
should be punished, regardless of where their offense was committed,” Grassley said.
“Perpetrators committing unspeakable war
crimes, such as those unfolding before our very eyes in Ukraine, must be held
to account,” Durbin said. “With the
UN’s formation of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on
Ukraine, we are sending a clear message to Putin: the world remains steadfast
in our commitment to Ukraine and the brave Ukrainian people. And as Co-Chair of
the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I will
continue to look at various avenues to ensure he pays the price.”
“My heart goes out to all those families
and individuals suffering due to Putin’s illegal and unwarranted invasion of
Ukraine and the horrific atrocities carried out by his troops. These war
criminals – all those on the ground, their leaders, and ultimately Vladimir
Putin, cannot be allowed to act without consequence. The United States stands
with the people of Ukraine, and we must continue our efforts to both weaken
Russia through our sanctions regime and strengthen our support for Ukraine via
supplies and aid. We need to pass the Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act so
that when this war ends, none of these war criminals will evade justice for the
unconscionable acts they have committed in Ukraine,” said Cicilline.
“The atrocities of Russia’s war against
the Ukrainian people and POWs are heartbreaking. I have seen and heard it
firsthand, but these war crimes have now also been confirmed by the UN. The international
community cannot remain silent and must hold accountable not only top leaders
who make these ruthless orders, but also military commanders who are willing to
obey them,” said Spartz.
Current law allows for the prosecution of
people who commit war crimes in the U.S. or against Americans abroad, but
violators who target non-Americans are not subject to the law even after they
enter the U.S. The Justice for Victims of
War Crimes Act expands the original war crimes jurisdiction to include war
criminals found in the U.S., even if they never targeted U.S. nationals. This
would allow the prosecution of those non-Americans who come to the U.S. after
committing war crimes against Ukrainians.
-30-
