Vol. 43 (2023)
Special section

Championing Accountability: Lithuania’s Leadership in Investigating Russian Crimes in Ukraine

Dovilė Sagatienė
Centre for Military Studies, Department of Political Science, Copenhagen University, Denmark

Published 2024-06-25

Keywords

  • Lithuania,
  • Ukraine,
  • accountability,
  • justice,
  • international crimes,
  • universal jurisdiction,
  • genocide,
  • Russia,
  • Soviet Union
  • ...More
    Less

How to Cite

Championing Accountability: Lithuania’s Leadership in Investigating Russian Crimes in Ukraine. (2024). Polish Yearbook of International Law, 43, 287–298. https://doi.org/10.24425/pyil.2024.152302

Abstract

This article explores the role of Lithuania in seeking accountability for Russia’s crimes in Ukraine since 2022. This small Baltic state, being both an EU and NATO member for twenty years now, is advocating on behalf of their Ukrainian colleagues in many international arenas and forums. However, more than two years into the brutal war, some organisational and legal challenges have started to emerge. These include the challenges resulting from the complex international institutional framework, as well as legal ones related to universal jurisdiction and the scope of crimes included under current criminal investigations.

References

  1. Address by the President of the Russian Federation, President of Russia, 21 February 2022, available at: http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67828 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  2. AFP, ICC: Historic state referrals accelerate opening of an investigation on Ukraine, JusticeInfo.Net, 2 March 2022, available at: https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/88144-icc-historic-state-referrals-acceleratesopening-investigation-ukraine.html (accessed 30 August 2024).
  3. Agreement to extend the joint investigation team into alleged core international crimes in Ukraine for two years, Press release, EuroJust, 29 February 2024, available at: https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/news/agreementextend-joint-investigation-team-alleged-core-international-crimes-ukraine-two-years (accessed 30 August 2024).
  4. Anderon J.H., Why Lithuania is at the forefront of the Ukrainian lawfare, JusticeInfo.Net, 9 September 2022, available at: https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/106188-why-lithuania-forefront-ukrainian-lawfare.html (accessed 30 August 2024).
  5. Anderson J.H., A Nuremberg for Russia’s Crime of Aggression?, JusticeInfo.Net, 22 April 2022, available at: https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/91135-nuremberg-russia-crime-of-aggression.html (accessed 30 August 2024).
  6. Bilyk D., Expert: Russian actions in Mariupol can be called genocide, Deutsche Welle, 24 March 2022, available at: https://www.dw.com/ru/nemeckij-jekspert-dejstvija-rf-v-mariupole-mozhno-nazvat-genocidom/a-61247449 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  7. BNS, Lithuania launches probe after Belarusian border guard enters its territory, LRT.Lt, 13 April 2023, available at: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1961773/lithuania-launches-probe-after-belarusian-borderguard-enters-its-territory accessed 30 August 2024).
  8. BNS, Lithuania launches probe into deportation of Ukrainian children to Belarus, LRT.Lt, 12 June 2023, available at: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2011196/lithuania-launches-probe-into-deportationof-ukrainian-children-to-belarus (accessed 30 August 2024).
  9. BNS, Lithuania sanctions 30 Belarusian ofcials including Lukashenko, LRT.Lt, 1 August 2020, available at: https://tinyurl.com/49whxjn3 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  10. Core International Crimes Evidence Database (CICED), EuroJust, 23 February 2023, available at: https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/publication/core-international-crimes-evidence-database-ciced (accessed 30 August 2024).
  11. Crawford J., Ukraine, ICC and EuroJust: How will that work, JusticeInfo.Net, 5 May 2022, available at: https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/91763-ukraine-icc-eurojust-how-will-that-work.html (accessed 30 August 2024).
  12. ECtHR, Drėlingas v. Lithuania (App. No. 28859/16), 12 March 2019.
  13. ECtHR, Vasiliauskas v. Lithuania (App. No. 35343/05), 20 October 2015.
  14. Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia join Lithuania-initiated war crime probe team, LRT.Lt, 31 May 2022, available at: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1707622/estonia-latvia-slovakia-join-lithuania-initiated-warcrime-probe-team (accessed 30 August 2024).
  15. Estonia’s Internal Security Service also investigating war crimes committed in Ukraine, The Baltic Times, 30 March 2022, available at: https://tinyurl.com/z4vku4s8 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  16. Eurojust and the war in Ukraine, EuroJust, available at: https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/eurojustand-the-war-in-ukraine (accessed 30 August 2024).
  17. Eurojust and the war in Ukraine, EuroJust, available at: https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/eurojustand-the-war-in-ukraine (accessed 30 August 2024).
  18. EuroJust, Press conference – Joint investigation team on alleged core intl. crimes in Ukraine, YouTube, 31 May 2022, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HW9AcF-AxI&t=351s (accessed 30 August 2024).
  19. Europol participates in joint investigation team into alleged core international crimes in Ukraine, Europol, 5 October 2023, available at: https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/europol-participates-in-joint-investigation-team-alleged-core-international-crimes-in-ukraine (accessed 30 August 2024).
  20. Europol sets up OSINT taskforce to support investigations into war crimes committed in Ukraine, Europol, 21 November 2023, available at: https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/europolsets-osint-taskforce-to-support-investigations-war-crimes-committed-in-ukraine (accessed 30 August 2024).
  21. Europol’s solidarity with Ukraine, Europol, 16 October 2023, available at: https://www.europol.europa.eu/europol%E2%80%99s-solidarity-ukraine (accessed 30 August 2024).
  22. Finkel E., What’s happening in Ukraine is genocide. Period, The Washington Post, 5 April 2022, available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/05/russiais-committing-genocide-in-ukraine/ (accessed 30 August 2024).
  23. G. Gigaitė-Daugirdė: named principles for ensuring responsibility for aggression against Ukraine, 15Min.Lt, 12 September 2023, available at: https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/g-grigaite-daugirde-ivardinti-principai-uztikrinti-atsakomybei-uz-agresija-priesukraina-56-2109776 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  24. G. Grigaitė-Daugirdė in Kyiv: it’s time to move faster to achieve justice for Ukraine, 15min.Lt, 23 August 2023, available at: https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/g-grigaite-daugirde-kyjive-laikas-zengtisparciau-siekiant-teisingumo-ukrainai-56-2099952 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  25. Gaučaitė-Znutienė M., Vienam prokurorui – ir 80 bylų, o dėl užsitęsusių tyrimų nukentės žmonės: Grunskienė išdėstė didžiausias prokuratūros bėdas [One prosecutor has 80 cases, and people will suffer as a result of protracted investigations: Grunskienė outlined the biggest problems of the prosecutor’s ofce], LRT.Lt, 3 July 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/mwv5mcd9 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  26. Heller K.J., Can International Law Bring a Measure of Justice to Ukraine?, Russian Matters, 22 March 2023, available at: https://www.russiamatters.org/analysis/can-international-law-bring-measure-justice-ukraine (accessed 30 August 2024).
  27. Į Ukrainą atvyko Lietuvos teisėsaugos institucijų pareigūnai [Oficials of Lithuanian law enforcement institutions arrived in Ukraine], Lietuvos Respublikos Prokuraturos, 5 May 2022, available at: https://www.prokuraturos.lt/lt/naujienos/prokuraturos-aktualijos/i-ukraina-atvyko-lietuvos-teisesaugos-institucijupareigunai/8354 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  28. International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, EuroJust, available at: https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/international-centre-for-the-prosecution-of-the-crime-of-aggressionagainst-ukraine (accessed 30 August 2024).
  29. Jačauskas I., Lithuania’s investigation recognises 90 people as victims of war crimes in Ukraine, LRT.Lt, 30 March 2023, available at: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1950516/lithuania-s-investigationrecognises-90-people-as-victims-of-war-crimes-in-ukraine (accessed 30 August 2024).
  30. January 13, 1991: The night when Lithuania faced Soviet troops – through the eyes of ordinary people, LRT.Lt, 12 January 2021, available at: https://tinyurl.com/mmexyf24 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  31. Kersten M., Universal Jurisdiction in Ukraine: States should commit to using their own courts to address Russian atrocities, Justice in Conflict, 17 October 2022 available at: https://tinyurl.com/m52kzjv9 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  32. Kubilius E., Grunskienė apie nepakankamą fnansavimą prokuratūrai: kalbėsiu tol, kol valdžia mane išgirs [Grunskienė on insufcient funding for the prosecutor’s ofce: I will speak until the government hears me], LRT.Lt, 30 March 2023, available at: https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/1950295/grunskieneapie-nepakankama-fnansavima-prokuraturai-kalbesiu-tol-kol-valdzia-mane-isgirs (accessed 30 August 2024).
  33. Latysh K., Rogers M., Universal Jurisdiction, Kurk Lietuvai, 3 March 2023, available at: https://kurklt.lt/projektai/visuotine-universali-jurisdikcija?lang=en (accessed 30 August 2024).
  34. Latysh K., Rogers M., Universal Jurisdiction: current situation analysis in Lithuania, Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania, Vilnius: 2023, available at http://bit.ly/47IJ5YR (accessed 30 August 2024).
  35. Lietuvos Respublikos baudžiamasis kodeksas [Criminal code of the Republic of Lithuania], Infolex, available at: https://www.infolex.lt/ta/66150:str102 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  36. Lithuanian prosecutors launch probe into regime violence in Belarus, LRT.Lt, 12 September 2020, available at: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1294884/lithuanian-prosecutors-launch-probe-into-regime-violencein-belarus (accessed 30 August 2024).
  37. Lithuanian prosecutors to probe flmmaker’s killing in Ukraine as war crime, LRT.Lt, 4 May 2022, available at: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1662906/lithuanian-prosecutors-to-probe-flmmakers-killing-in-ukraine-as-war-crime (accessed 30 August 2024).
  38. Marchuk I., Wanigasuriya A., Beyond the False Claim of Genocide: Preliminary Reflections on Ukraine’s Prospects in Its Pursuit of Justice at the ICJ, 25(3–4) Journal of Genocide Research 256 (2022), pp. 256–278.
  39. Maupas S., War in Ukraine: Some European prosecutors want to unite in the face of war crime, Le Monde, 3 June 2022, available at: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/06/03/war-in-ukrainesome-european-prosecutors-want-to-unite-in-the-face-of-war-crimes_5985507_4.html (accessed 30 August 2024).
  40. Medvedev D., O fejkah i nastoâŝej istorii [About fake and real history], Telegram, 5 April 2022, available at: https://t.me/medvedev_telegram/34 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  41. MEPs back Lithuanian resolution on tribunal for Russia, LRT.Lt, 19 January 2023, available at: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1870870/meps-back-lithuanian-resolution-on-tribunal-for-russia
  42. (accessed 30 August 2024)
  43. Pancevski B., Germany Opens Investigation Into Suspected Russian War Crimes in Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal, 8 March 2022, available at: https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/russia-ukraine-latestnews-2022-03-08/card/germany-opens-investigation-into-suspected-russian-war-crimes-in-ukraine-bNCphaIWE30f2REH8BCi (accessed 30 August 2024).
  44. Pankūnas G., Grunskienė: dėl lėšų trūkumo prokuroras į karo zoną Ukrainoje vyko be jokio draudimo [Grunskienė: due to lack of funds, the prosecutor went to the war zone in Ukraine without any insurance], LRT.Lt, 6 October 2022, available at: https://tinyurl.com/4sa67dbn (accessed 30 August 2024).
  45. Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania Resolution of 5 October 2022 on the Recognition of the actions of the Russian Federation in Ukraine as genocide and the establishment of the Special International Criminal Tribunal to investigate the crime of Russian aggression, XIV-1070, available at: https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/4152dc40d03b11ecb1b39d276e924a5d (accessed 30 August 2024).
  46. Putin V.‚ On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians, President of Russia, 12 July 2021, available at: http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/66181 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  47. Roper S.D., Applying Universal Jurisdiction to Civil Cases: Variations in State Approaches to Monetizing Human Rights Violations, 24(1) Global Governance 103 (2018), pp. 103–118.
  48. Russia convicts Lithuanian judges who handed down verdicts in Soviet crackdown case, LRT.Lt, 28 August 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/mwdsuwnw (accessed 30 August 2024).
  49. Sagatienė D., Žilinskas J., Gorbachev’s Legacy in Lithuania, Verfassungsblog, 8 September 2022, available at: https://verfassungsblog.de/gorbachevs-legacy-in-lithuania/ (accessed 30 August 2024).
  50. Schabas W.A., Genocide and Ukraine: Do Words Mean What We Choose them to Mean?, 20(4) Journal of International Criminal Justice 843 (2022), pp. 843–857.
  51. Sergeytsev T., Čto Rossiâ dolžna sdelatʹ s Ukrainoj [What Russia should do with Ukraine], RIA Novosti, 3 April 2022, available at: https://ria.ru/20220403/ukraina-1781469605.html (accessed 30 August 2024).
  52. Snyder T.D., Russia’s genocide handbook, Thinking about…, 8 April 2022, available at: https://snyder.substack.com/p/russias-genocide-handbook (accessed 30 August 2024).
  53. Spain opens probe into ‘serious violations’ by Russia in Ukraine, The Local: Spain, 8 March 2022, available at: https://www.thelocal.es/20220308/spain-opens-probe-into-serious-violations-by-russia-in-ukraine (accessed 30 August 2024).
  54. Stanton G.H., The Ten Stages of Genocide, Genocide Watch, available at: https://www.genocidewatch.com/tenstages (accessed 30 August 2024).
  55. Steniulienė I., Vilnius court sends Gorbachev documents of January 1991 crackdown case, LRT.Lt, 17 May 2022, available at: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1696408/vilnius-court-sends-gorbachev-documents-of-january-1991-crackdowncase (both accessed 30 August 2024).
  56. Sweden launches investigation into Ukraine war crimes, The Local: Sweden, 5 April 2022, available at: https://www.thelocal.se/20220405/sweden-launches-investigation-into-ukraine-war-crimes (accessed 30 August 2024).
  57. The ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania also urges the witnesses of war crimes in Ukraine to contact the Lithuanian law enforcement, Lietuvos Respublikos Prokuraturos, 6 May 2022, available at: https://www.prokuraturos.lt/lt/karo-nusikaltimu-ukrainoje-liudytojus-kreiptisilietuvos-teisesauga-ragina-ir-ukrainosambasadorius-lietuvoje/8362 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  58. The Hague: Center to probe Russia’s war in Ukraine opens, Deutsche Welle, 7 March 2023, available at: https://www.dw.com/en/russia-invasion-ukraine-investigation-the-hague/a-66097700 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  59. The Ministry of Justice asks the Prosecutor General’s Ofce to launch a pre-trial investigation against Putin and Lukashenko, LRV.Lt, 15 March 2022, available at: https://tm.lrv.lt/en/news/the-ministry-of-justice-asks-the-prosecutor-generals-ofce-to-launch-a-pre-trial-investigation-against-putinand-lukashenko (accessed 30 August 2024).
  60. Trofmov Y., Marson J., Russian Forces Kill Civilians, Loot for Supplies in Occupied Ukraine, Residents Say, The Wall Street Journal, 14 March 2022, available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-forces-kill-civilians-loot-forsupplies-in-occupied-ukraine-residents-say-11647267560 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  61. Two years on – A timeline of Eurojus’s response to the war in Ukraine, EuroJust, 29 February 2024, available at: https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/sites/default/fles/assets/two-years-on-a-timeline-of-eurojust-s-response-to-the-war-in-ukraine-en.pdf (accessed 30 August 2024).
  62. Ukraine war: MEPs push for special tribunal to punish Russian crimes, European Parliament News, 19 January 2023, available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230113IPR66653/ukraine-war-meps-push-for-special-tribunal-to-punish-russian-crimes (accessed 30 August 2024).
  63. Ukraine: International Centre for the prosecution of Russia’s crime of aggression against Ukraine starts operations today, European Commission, 3 July 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/mpt8buc5 (accessed 30 August 2024).
  64. Universal Criminal Jurisdiction in Ukraine: Country’s legal community is putting public pressure on the prosecutor general, the president’s ofce and the government to incorporate principles, Institute for War & Peace Reporting, 20 September 2022, available at: https://iwpr.net/global-voices/universal-criminal-jurisdictionukraine (accessed 30 August 2024).
  65. Venneri M., War crimes in Ukraine: Failure to prosecute Russia will damage international security for years to come, Middle East Institute, 22 November 2022, available at: https://www.mei.edu/publications/war-crimesukraine-failure-prosecute-russia-will-damage-international-security-years (accessed 30 August 2024).
  66. Wright G., Ukraine war: Is Russia committing genocide?, BBC News, 13 April 2022, available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61017352 (accessed 30 August 2024).