On 16 May in Chișinău, during the Council of Europe Ministerial Session, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a decision approving the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the establishment of the Management Committee of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine - one of the key elements of its institutional architecture.

The adoption of this decision became possible thanks to notifications of intent to join the Agreement submitted by 34 Council of Europe member states, the European Union, Costa Rica, and Australia.

Australia has expressed its intention to join the Enlarged Partial Agreement as an Associate Member, subject to the completion of its internal procedures.

Ukraine highly appreciates Australia’s principled support for international law, justice, and accountability for the crime of aggression.

Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha described the decision as another important step toward the practical launch of the international accountability mechanism for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

“We are consistently moving toward the full-fledged launch of the Special Tribunal. This is yet another signal that the international community is determined to ensure the inevitability of accountability for the crime of aggression,” the Minister stressed.

The Enlarged Partial Agreement remains open not only to Council of Europe member states, but also to third countries, creating further opportunities to broaden global support for the Special Tribunal.