EU’s first €10 million for Special Tribunal marks real step toward justice – Ambassador Kostin

Ukraine’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Andriy Kostin, said this in an exclusive interview with Ukrinform.

“The allocation by the European Union of the first €10 million is not just financial assistance – it is a concrete step toward justice, a signal that statements about the inevitability of punishment are turning into action. These funds will be used to establish the so-called Special Tribunal Advance Team. Its task is to lay the institutional, logistical, and functional foundations for the full launch of the Tribunal. This includes identifying and preparing premises, developing procedural rules, standards of evidence, and selecting staff and judges – everything behind the scenes without which no court can function,” he said.

According to Kostin, an important stage is accession to the Enlarged Partial Agreement, which is one of the founding documents for the establishment of the Special Tribunal and is open to all willing states.

“This agreement will allow both Council of Europe member states and non-member states to join the mechanism. It regulates administrative, financial, and governance issues to ensure the functioning of the Tribunal,” the Ambassador explained.

He also noted: “Our goal, of course, is to launch the full-fledged work of the Special Tribunal as soon as possible. We hope that in 2027, after all organizational and legal procedures are completed, the Tribunal will be able to begin its work. We are actively working toward this – not only here, but also through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President. This work is one of our top priorities.”

As reported by Ukrinform, the Special Tribunal Advance Team investigating the crime of aggression against Ukraine will operate in Strasbourg and the Netherlands.

Photo: Lera Manzovitova