Damages from Russia's aggression should be counted from 2014 - PACE resolution

On April 9 this year, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution that for the first time clearly recognizes the need to take into account the damage caused by Russia to Ukraine since 2014, in particular through the occupation of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine.

The document emphasizes that international reparations mechanisms should cover all victims of Russian aggression, including residents of the peninsula who suffered from the occupation:

"PACE calls on the participants and associate members of the Register of Damages to expand the range of claims to include claims relating to 2014, rather than limiting it to claims from February 24, 2022. Such broader coverage will ensure that all victims of Russian aggression, including those affected by the annexation of Crimea, the war in eastern Ukraine and other acts of aggression, can seek justice and compensation. The register should accurately reflect the full extent of the Russian Federation's actions over the past decade," reads Article 15, paragraph 5, of the resolution "Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine: the need for accountability, the need to avoid impunity," which publishedon the PACE website.

The relevant document stipulates that the Register of Damages, created to compensate Ukraine, is expanded to cover events since 2014. This means that it will include damages from the occupation of Crimea, eastern Ukraine and other acts of Russian aggression since 2014, and not just from the moment of the full-scale invasion.

The Resolution also welcomes the opening by the Register of Damages7 new categories of claims, including missing relatives, sexual violence, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, and grievous bodily harm;

Starting formal negotiations on the establishment of an international Commission of Claims for Ukraine and calls on member states to move quickly in this direction, supporting an open convention of the Council of Europe;

Cooperate with civil society organizations, national authorities and international partners, in particular through the Civil Society Coordination Platform, and encourages more active information of potential applicants;

PACE also supports the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression and the extension of its jurisdiction to the Belarusian leadership and North Korea.

At the same time, PACE condemns the decision of the Russian Federation to recognize the Register as an "undesirable organization".

In addition, the Assembly calls on all states to ensure that the Russian Federation and Belarus are held accountable for the systematic use of torture against Ukrainian prisoners of war, civilians and political prisoners in the occupied territories and in Russia.

The Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea believes that the resolution shows that the international community sees the full depth of the crimes of the Russian Federation, in particular in Crimea, and supports the restoration of justice for all victims.

"This expansion will ensure that all victims of Russian aggression, including those affected by the occupation of Crimea, the war in eastern Ukraine and other acts of aggression, can seek justice and compensation. It is important that the Register accurately reflects the full scope of the Russian Federation's actions over the past decade," reads the statement, which is posted on the website of the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

The Representation of the President of Ukraine in the AR of Crimea also added that "as part of its advocacy activities, the Mission has repeatedly emphasized the need to restore justice for Ukrainian citizens who suffered on the occupied peninsula: from the loss of property to torture, disappearances, restriction of rights and persecution. In particular, this year's Forum discussed "11 Years of War: Crimea's Starting Point."

"Voice of Crimea" has already wrote that human rights activists call on Ukrainians who fall into the category of victims of court-established violations of their rights and freedoms in Crimea in the period from 2014 to 2022, they should write an appeal to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, or contact the prosecutor's office or other law enforcement agencies to remind them of themselves before June 2025.