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On 1-2 December in The Hague, representatives of states gathered for the 24th session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to discuss the ICC's activities, needs and future prospects in high-level debates.

In her address, the head of Lithuania's delegation, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Audra Plepytė, emphasized the need to continue efforts to achieve full accountability for the crime of aggression and stressed the importance of expanding the Rome Statute rules for the ICC's jurisdiction over the crime of aggression. The ICC can only investigate the crime of aggression if the aggressor state and the attacked state recognize the jurisdiction of this court or if the case of aggression is referred to the court by the UN Security Council. Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute and has veto power in the Security Council.

"Lithuania was one of the first countries to raise the issue of accountability for the crime of aggression against Ukraine and, in the absence of the possibility of investigating it in the ICC, the establishment of an appropriate international legal mechanism. Today, we are in the final stages of creating a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. We must join forces and fulfill our political commitment to ensure that those most responsible for the crime of aggression do not escape accountability. Lithuania has already completed the necessary internal legal procedures for participation in the Special Tribunal. Thus, we urge other responsible partners to follow our example", said the Vice-Minister.

Lithuania's statement also included a strong call on the states parties to the Rome Statute to cooperate with the court by executing legal aid requests and ICC arrest warrants. Deep regret was expressed that once again this year there have been cases of non-cooperation with the Court, where states have failed to fulfil their obligation to arrest and surrender individuals sought by the Court. The ICC Office of the Prosecutor has already issued six arrest warrants against senior Russian officials for
for alleged war crimes and other international crimes committed during the invasion of Ukraine.

States were encouraged to provide financial and expert support to the International Criminal Court, as well as to contribute to the Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC. "Lithuania has supported the Trust Fund for Victims with voluntary contributions for four consecutive years, contributing to one of the core tasks of the ICC, which is to ensure that victims of the most horrific international crimes receive adequate compensation for the harm suffered," Vice-Minister Plepytė expressed her gladness during the meeting with Andres Parmas, member of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC.

The ICC Assembly is taking place from December 1 to 6, in The Hague, Netherlands. The Assembly brings together representatives from 124 states parties, as well as observers like NGOs and other organizations.

It should be recalled that in September 2024, Lithuania submitted to the International Criminal Court a request to open an investigation into the situation in Belarus, namely the crimes against humanity committed by the Lukashenka regime, including the forced deportation and persecution of persons, other cruel treatment contrary to the fundamental norms of international law.