Mr President,

I deliver this statement on behalf of the Lublin Triangle States – Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine.

Mr Special Rapporteur, we fully concur that documentation is critical for justice and echo your call for cooperation between States, civil society, and international organizations towards ensuring accountability.

For example, the act of aggression committed by the armed forces of the Soviet Union against the independent state of Lithuania on the 13 January 1991was well documented. This contributed to a conviction of 67 foreign citizens for war crimes and crimes against humanity. However, accountability was difficult to ensure, as competent Russian authorities refused all cooperation, actively harboured the perpetrators, and initiated criminal proceedings against the impartial judiciary of another sovereign state.

Today, Ukraine faces full-scale Russian aggression with atrocities committed daily. Documenting these crimes is vital to ensure justice and prevent impunity. A key tool in this regard is the Register of Damage established under the auspices of the Council of Europe. With 44 States and the EU already participating, we strongly encourage other States to join these efforts and support the compensation mechanism that must follow.

Mr Special Rapporteur, could you share your insights on ways to overcome the non-cooperation of certain states in the efforts to ensure accountability?

Thank you.