On April 12, 2024, the Council of Europe Project "Fostering Human Rights in the Criminal Justice System in Ukraine" participated in the Round Table "Crimes Against the Foundations of National Security: Qualification and Liability in the Context of a Full-Scale Invasion", organised together with the Supreme Court and the OSCE Support Program for Ukraine.

The opening remarks at the event were made by the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, Mr. Maciej JANCZAK, who noted, inter alia, that since February 2022, the Council of Europe within its mandate has pursued with the consistent assistance towards addressing legal and human rights consequences of the full-scale Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

"While those responsible for international crimes in Ukraine must be brought to accountability – it is paramount that overall justice is carried out in compliance with the principles of rule of law and with observance of human rights", said Maciej Janczak.

During the event, the President of The Supreme Court of Ukraine, Stanislav KRAVCHENKO, expressed gratitude to the Council of Europe for facilitating this event, noting that Ukraine particularly needs to feel the support of reliable international partners in these challenging times.

The event featured remarks by the international consultant of the Council of Europe, Mr. Jeremy McBride, who, inter alia, addressed the issue of liability and proof of crimes against the foundations of national security, specifically presenting an overview of the compliance of national legislation and case-law on criminal liability for collaborative activities from the perspective of relevant Council of Europe standards.

The Round Table provided a platform for professional discussion and dialogue among judges, as well as national and international experts on the issues of legislative regulation, interpretation, and application of norms of criminal and criminal procedural law in the context of the investigation and judicial consideration of crimes against the foundations of national security.

The organisation of the Round Table was supported within the project "Fostering Human Rights in the Criminal Justice System in Ukraine", which is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine "Resilience, Recovery, and Reconstruction" for 2023-2026.