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4 October 2024
A conversation with Andriy Kostin and Liev Schreiber | IBA's Annual Conference, Mexico 2024
At the International Bar Association’s annual conference in Mexico this September, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin discussed justice and accountability efforts in Ukraine during a session with IBA Executive Director Mark Ellis and Liev Schreiber, co-founder of the NGO, BlueCheck.
Prosecutor General Kostin highlighted the use of new technologies and techniques to investigate crimes, in what is now considered the most documented war in history. Speaking online from Ukraine, he revealed that 138,000 war crimes investigations have been launched so far, with hundreds of investigators risking their lives on the frontlines to gather evidence of atrocities committed during Russia’s ongoing war of aggression.
“It’s not easy. We are using new technologies and techniques to investigate crimes, collect evidence, and build prosecution strategies”, Prosecutor General Kostin remarked.
Despite the challenges of prosecuting war crimes amid an ongoing conflict, to date, 131 convictions have been secured in Ukrainian courts, supported by the creation of 10 regional war crimes units and the training of 200 judges specifically for these cases.
The eyeWitness to Atrocities app has played a crucial role in evidence documentation efforts. Since Russia's full-scale invasion, over 50,000 pieces of audiovisual footage have been captured using the app. Free and available on Android devices, the app ensures that verifiable photo, video, and audio footage can be securely preserved for use in courts worldwide.
In this session, Prosecutor General Kostin also emphasised Ukraine’s close collaboration with international bodies, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Eurojust joint investigation team, which consists of seven countries. Currently, 27 nations have opened investigations into war crimes committed during the conflict, working in partnership with Ukraine to bring perpetrators to justice.
Many of these cases are supervised by international impartial NGOs to ensure fairness and transparency. This global cooperation underscores a shared commitment to accountability, as Prosecutor General Kostin noted: “Our commitment is to bring justice for every Ukrainian who has suffered at the hands of Russia’s illegal war of aggression".
Alongside legal efforts, humanitarian aid remains crucial. Liev Schreiber shared insights into how his organisation, BlueCheck, identifies, vets, and fast-tracks urgent financial support to local Ukrainian NGOs providing essential assistance to those affected by the war.
As the conflict continues, Ukraine’s resolve to deliver justice remains steadfast. With the use of innovative technologies, international partnerships, and specialised war crimes units, Ukraine is ensuring that accountability is achieved even amidst the ongoing war.
Watch the full discussion: Mexico 2024 - A conversation with Andriy Kostin and Liev Schreiber.
