site.btaBulgaria Attends Informal Conference on Accountability for Crimes Committed in Ukraine

Bulgarian Justice Minister Mariya Pavlova took part in a two-day Informal Conference of the Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe entitled "Towards accountability for international crimes committed in Ukraine", which was held in Vilnius on September 4 and 5 under the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.

"Bulgarian criminal law applies the principle of universal jurisdiction for investigation and criminal prosecution of core international crimes. The killings of civilians and prisoners of war are investigated in connection with the situation in Ukraine," Pavlova said at the Conference, quoted by her Ministry in a press release on Thursday.

The position of Bulgaria emphasizes that such investigations are faced with numerous challenges, considering the need to prove many facts, including: the identification of victims who are usually foreign citizens, establishing the cause of their death, detecting the specific perpetrator and possible accomplices. Bulgaria is party to the Council of Europe conventions on extradition, mutual assistance in criminal mattes, and transfer of proceedings. The competent Bulgarian authorities avail themselves of the options for cooperation provided by these instruments.

In Vilnius, the justice ministers adopted a declaration welcoming the process of ratification by Ukraine of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as a key step in ensuring accountability for the core international crimes that are relevant to the entire international community.

Also taking part in the forum were Vera Jourova, Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, and Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric.