| Translate This News In |
|---|
Late Tuesday, the US Senate passed a resolution calling for investigations against Russian President Vladimir Putin and his regime for war crimes in the Ukraine incursion.
The Senate strongly condemns the “violence, war crimes, and crimes against humanity” perpetrated by Russian military forces under Putin’s command, according to a bipartisan bill introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina. It calls for international criminal courts to probe suspected war crimes by Putin, his security council, and military officers.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said, “These atrocities deserve to be investigated for war crimes.”
The bill was passed quickly and without opposition as Congress continues to make a bipartisan show of force against Russia’s assault in Ukraine.
The Senate resolution, which was first filed over two weeks ago, does not have legal power, but it is another example of Congress lending political support to the Biden administration in its fight against Putin’s actions.
Last week, US Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed calls for an international war crimes probe into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, citing “atrocities” such as attacking civilians and a maternity hospital.
Harris talked with Polish President Andrzej Duda at a press conference in Warsaw, but avoided accusing Russia of war crimes openly. “Absolutely, there should be an investigation, and we should all be looking,” Harris said, noting that the United Nations has already launched an investigation into the allegations.
The International Criminal Court has already announced the opening of an investigation into senior officials suspected of war crimes and other offences during the conflict in Ukraine. Senators from both parties, Republicans and Democrats, have endorsed the resolution passed by the Senate.
The Senate denounces Putin, the Russian Federation, the Russian Security Council, members of the Russian military, and others for perpetrating brazen acts of aggression and other atrocities that rise to the level of war crimes, according to the statement.
The resolution asks for the United States and countries to seek war crimes investigations into Putin and his regime at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.
