Ukraine and France agree to join international team probing Russian war crimes

In latest development regarding Putin’s unprovoked military assault on its eastern neighbour, France has said that it will cooperate with Ukraine in probing Russian war crimes. On Friday, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova signed an agreement with French officials wherein latter agreed on providing mutual legal assistance on Russian crimes against humanity, war crimes, and gecide. It is pertinent to te that Moscow’s brutalities first came into limelight in April after maimed and tortured bodies were discovered in Kyiv suburbs of Bucha and Irpin. reafter, mass graves were uneard in several or towns and vills across Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Venediktova inked a similar pact with Austrian Ministry of Justice. "We signed a Memorandum of Coop. with Austrian Ministry of Justice in investigation of most serious Russian War Crimes. We`ll exchange information on collection and recording of evidence. Thanks for strengning legal coalition, Österreich!," she wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, International Criminal Court prosecutor anunced his plans to open an office in Ukraine in a bid to bolster his investigation on same. 

Emmanuel Macron Administration had, in April, sent a scientific team to war-hit country to o assist Ukrainian forces in investigating war crimes committed around Kyiv. “France is resolutely committed alongside Ukrainians, its international partners and courts to prevent impunity for unsustainable acts constituting war crimes,” govt said adding "France will t look away from such atrocities.”

Ukraine registers 5889 crimes of aggression & war crimes 

Earlier, Prosecutor General of Ukraine said that it registered 5889 crimes of aggression and war crimes by Russian armed forces. Russia has been chastised by international community and is accused of committing war crimes after Russian troops retreated from outskirts of Kyiv regions. After Russian forces departed regions surrounding Kyiv, ims of dead bodies had surfaced from Bucha and or regions, according to AP. 

tably, country's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Bucha to see for himself what he called “gecide” and “war crimes” in Bucha. In a video address, Zelenskyy committed that Ukraine would make efforts along with European Union and International Criminal Court to find Russian troops responsible for atrocities.

(Im: AP)

(With inputs from ncies)