Impunity for Russian Crimes Threatens Ukraine’s Security, Says Raphael Lemkin Society Chair

The Austrian newspaper Wiener Zeitung, widely regarded as one of the country’s most authoritative publications, has published an article by journalist Stefan Schocher examining international efforts to bring Russia to justice for crimes committed during its war against Ukraine.

The article, titled “Ukraine: Justice Is Not Negotiable,” explores the scale and systemic nature of Russian war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts that may constitute genocide. It highlights the growing body of documented evidence and the international legal mechanisms being developed to hold those responsible accountable.

Among the voices featured in the publication is Vitalii Tytych, Chair of the Board of the Raphael Lemkin Society, a military serviceman and criminal lawyer. He emphasizes the importance of accountability and the need to ensure that crimes committed during the war do not go unpunished.

As Tytych notes, it is crucial for Ukraine, not least from a security perspective, that “people who have committed crimes are held accountable.” Impunity, he warns, may be interpreted as an incentive to commit further crimes. He also stresses the importance of clearly naming crimes for what they are: genocide.

“It has been openly stated and declared that Russia intends to annihilate a national group,” Vitalii Tytych says.

The article also discusses the role of international institutions such as the International Criminal Court, the planned special tribunal for the crime of aggression, and the Register of Damage for Ukraine.

More broadly, the publication stresses that justice for Ukraine is not only a legal issue but also a matter of international security.