Ukraine-Russia War, May 17 Bulletin

The Council of Europe creates a register of Russian damage in Ukraine in The Hague

The Council of Europe, an international organization based in Strasbourg, has established a registry Damage caused by Russian aggression on Ukraine.
Announced this morning in Reykjavik, Iceland, by Maria Begenovi? Borich, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Katrin Jacobsdottir, Prime Minister of Iceland, Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Thordis Kolbrun Rickefjord, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Denys Schmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine, and Denys Maliuska, Minister of Justice of Ukraine. Forty-three countries and the European Union have joined the expanded partial registry agreement or have indicated their intention to join. “Support and solidarity with Ukraine are among the top priorities of the Icelandic presidency and we have worked hard to ensure that the Reykjavik Summit addresses the need for global accountability for Russia-led aggression against Ukraine,” Jacobsdottir said. The record stresses “a first step towards asserting responsibility for crimes committed during Russia’s brutal war and is a strong message of support for Ukraine.” For the Secretary-General, the Register, “backed by a broad coalition of member and non-member states, as well as by the European Union, is one of the first legally binding decisions to hold Russia to account.” The registry will be based in The Hague, Netherlands, with a branch office in Ukraine; The expected initial term is three years. It will work to record evidence and information related to claims for compensation for damages, losses or injuries resulting from the Russian aggression against Ukraine, paving the way for a future international compensation mechanism for the victims of aggression.