We, the representatives of the legal professions, whose mission is to uphold freedom, justice, and peace in the world, want to loudly express our objection to the continuing violations of standards and human rights committed by Russia within the independent Ukraine. We demand justice for the victims of war and accountability of war criminals. Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, also appealed for the creation of a special tribunal for this purpose at the UN on 22 February.
Our objection is an expression of our moral veto and a call for solidarity with the Ukrainian people. It is our joint responsibility to stand up for freedom and human dignity. After the experience of the Second World War, we cannot allow the perpetrators of cruel crimes against humanity to go unpunished. The victims of this war deserve justice.
As part of its objection to Russia’s unlawful aggression against Ukraine, the #Free Courts Initiative has prepared a video featuring representatives of the legal community, including Dr Michał Laskowski – Supreme Court Judge, President of the Supreme Court managing the work of the Criminal Chamber, Dr Hanna Machińska – Deputy Ombudsman in 2017–2022, Professor Adam Bodnar – Ombudsman in 2015–2021, Przemysław Rosati, Attorney-at-Law – President of the Polish Bar Council, Mikołaj Pietrzak, Attorney-at-Law – Dean of the Warsaw Bar Association, Professor Mirosław Wyrzykowski – Judge of the Constitutional Tribunal in 2001–2010, Judge Igor Tuleya – Association of Polish Judges, “Iustitia”, Judge Waldemar Żurek – Association of Judges “Themis” and Prosecutor Katarzyna Kwiatkowska. Trainee attorneys-at-law and law students also took part in the video.