UK willing to work with Japan to help Ukraine gather evidence of war crimes

The UK justice secretary says his country is ready to work with Japan to help Ukraine gather evidence on war crimes allegedly committed by Russia during its ongoing invasion.

Alex Chalk sat down with NHK in Tokyo on Thursday.

He stressed that investigators must understand how to gather evidence so trials on alleged war crimes will be fair.

Chalk said the biggest challenge for successful prosecutions is to ensure investigators obtain evidence admissible before court. He said they need to collect evidence from eyewitnesses and open-source material.

Chalk referred to an arrest warrant issued in March by the International Criminal Court for Russian President Vladimir Putin on suspicion of committing war crimes in Ukraine.

The court in The Hague said there are reasonable grounds to believe Putin bears responsibility for the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.

Chalk said the UK "is determined" that whatever happens, it will support the ICC. He added that the UK will want to do everything it can "to ensure that the Ukrainian people get the justice they deserve."

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230707_02/