Prosecutor General’s Office and the Netherlands: a partnership in the field of forensics and documentation of war crimes

The GroenLinks-PvdA parliamentary group led by its leader Frans Timmermans and Kati Piri paid a working visit to Ukraine.

Together with Deputy Prosecutor General Andrii Leshchenko, the guests visited the National Scientific Centre “Hon. Prof. M.S. Bokarius Forensic Science Institute” (NSC FSI) of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.

International partners saw firsthand the work of the JDEAL comprehensive forensic laboratory, the equipment for which was transferred to Ukraine by the Kingdom of the Netherlands a year ago.

The laboratory includes molecular genetic, physico-chemical, and dactyloscopic examination modules, as well as photodocumentation, forensic analysis of physical evidence, and engineering-technical examinations.

These capabilities are used to record and analyze evidence, including war crimes committed during the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. “This equipment allows Ukrainian experts to conduct research at the level of European standards, which strengthens the evidence base and contributes to the effective investigation of crimes of an international nature,” noted the Deputy Prosecutor General.

A separate emphasis of the meeting was the discussion of cooperation in the field of international mechanisms for bringing the aggressor country to justice. In particular, it was about strengthening cooperation on the world's leading legal platforms, including within the framework of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression.

Frans Timmermans, who has held the positions of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Vice President of the European Commission, and currently heads the GroenLinks-PvdA parliamentary group, emphasized the importance of cooperation in the field of documenting war crimes and solidarity with Ukraine.

The Prosecutor General’s Office highly appreciates the close cooperation with the Dutch partners. “Such interaction in the field of forensics and forensic examinations is key to strengthening the capacity of the Ukrainian justice system. Our cooperation allows us to more effectively collect and analyze the evidence that will form the basis of national and international litigation,” Andriy Leshchenko noted.