The political situation in Europe and the prosecution of Russian war crimes were the main topics of a conversation between Minister of Justice Prosecutor General Zbigniew Ziobro and US Attorney General Merrick Garland. The meeting took place in Lviv, where an international conference ‘United for Justice’ was held.
During the meeting, Minister Zbigniew Ziobro highlighted how Russia had managed to prevent responses by the European Union, particularly Germany, to its numerous military offensives and violations of global law, ranging from Georgia to Ukraine. Putin had employed a combination of European reliance on Russian gas and the bribery of European political figures to gain control.
Zbigniew Ziobro and Merrick Garland also discussed collaborating on mutual legal assistance, improved extradition procedures and cooperation between Poland and the United States in the investigation of Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
The US Attorney General praised the work of Polish prosecutors. He thanked them for their commitment to investigating and documenting Russian crimes.
Polish prosecutor general launches probe into Russian aggression on Ukraine
At the behest of Zbigniew Ziobro, the National Prosecutor’s Office launched an inquiry on February 28, 2022, into the Russian-perpetrated assault against Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and autonomy. The investigation covers violations of international laws of war, peace, and humanity. These criminal acts not only affect Ukraine but also threaten European security and the interests of the global community, inclusive of Poland.
The most important objective of the Polish investigation is to obtain and secure evidence from witnesses and victims. A team consisting of prosecutors and officers from the Internal Security Agency and the Police has been formed.
Joint investigative team
Thousands of photos and recordings have been gathered, and over 1,700 people have been interviewed. These testimonies cover the offences committed by Russian troops in Bucha, and the shelling of civilian spots by Russian Federation soldiers in Kharkiv, Mariupol, and many other places, among other matters.
The joint investigative team set up on 25 March 2022 by Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland has begun its operations. The International Criminal Court later joined the team and was joined subsequently by Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, and Romania.