During a visit to Chernihiv, GRC Mobile Justice Team discussed with regional prosecutors and investigators priorities in investigating war crimes committed in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the most effective approaches to prioritising and building cases.
Chernihiv prosecutors and investigators are focusing on two categories of crimes: those committed during the active occupation of parts of the region by the Russian Federation Armed Forces, and post-occupation crimes (shelling of border areas, missile attacks on Chernihiv, etc.). During the meeting, they outlined the challenges in systematising occupation-related crimes which were numerous and included willful killings, unlawful confinement, conflict-related sexual violence, artillery strikes, and others.
In response, GRC legal advisors provided advice on approaches to evidence gathering, crime systematisation, and mapping.
According to the President of the GRC International Law, this is essential to see the bigger picture, especially whether the crimes were planned and systemic.
“There are no simple solutions in this process, but we can offer advice on how to effectively prioritise the investigation. In the mapping process, the key thing we do is help linkage between crimes and the senior command accountable. The first step is to document the crime and collect as much evidence as possible. The prosecutor’s office has already done this. Next comes mapping and prioritisation to understand where the main focus of the work should lie,” said Wayne Jordash KC, President of the GRC International Law.
GRC specialists support the prosecutor’s office in processing cases and identifying perpetrators and involved parties. The Mobile Justice Teams are part of the International Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA Group), which was initiated by the governments of the US, the EU, and the UK to assist Ukraine in holding accountable those responsible for crimes committed during Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.