Breaking the Cycle: The Importance of Accountability for Russian War Crimes
This article analyzes the comprehensive accountability framework emerging in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, positing it as a critical opportunity to dismantle the Russian state’s historical cycle of impunity. By tracing a consistent pattern wherein Russian leadership utilizes atrocity crimes to achieve geopolitical objectives, the text documents a trajectory of violence ranging from the Chechen wars, which resulted in up to 250,000 deaths, to the invasion of Georgia, the indiscriminate bombing of Syrian civilian infrastructure, and the massacre of 500 civilians in Moura, Mali. Through an examination of the current conflict in Ukraine, where bombardment has killed an estimated 12,000 civilians and over 19,000 children have been unlawfully deported, the article evaluates the complementary roles of international legal mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court’s issuance of arrest warrants, proceedings at the International Court of Justice, and the proposed Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression. Ultimately, the analysis argues that a robust, multi-layered approach to accountability is not only a prerequisite for a just peace in Ukraine but essential for reinforcing global security and the rule of international law.
Oleksandra Matviichuk is a Ukrainian human rights lawyer and the head of the Centre for Civil Liberties, a Nobel Peace Prize–winning organization. She leads national and international advocacy on democratic reform and accountability for war crimes and serves as Vice-President of FIDH. She holds an LL.M. from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and has documented violations in Ukraine for more than a decade.
Dr. Paul R. Williams holds the Rebecca I. Grazier Professorship in Law and International Relations at American University where he teaches in the School of International Service and at the Washington College of Law. Dr. Williams is also the Co-Founder of the Public International Law & Policy Group (“PILPG”). He received his J.D. from Stanford Law School and his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge.
Paula C. Kates is an associate in the Litigation group at White & Case in New York, focusing on commercial disputes and bankruptcy litigation. She received her J.D. from New York University School of Law and served as a judicial law clerk in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.