EDINBURGH šC The Council of Europe, often criticized for being overly cautious, is flexing its muscles.
For months now, the Council has been working with Ukraine to create a joint tribunal to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin¡¯s regime to justice for crimes of aggression in Ukraine.
When a crisis hits, the Council of Europe can be slow to act. But the Council responded promptly to Russia¡¯s act of aggression against Ukraine, first by suspending Russia¡¯s representation rights on Feb. 25, 2022, and then, after 26 years of Russian membership, by expelling it on March 16, 2022, in accordance with Article 8 of its statute. Now, the international prosecution of Russian leaders ¡ª which it is spearheading ¡ª cannot come soon enough, given the Kremlin¡¯s intensified attacks against Ukraine¡¯s civilian population.
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