Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis’s suggestion to grant Vladimir Putin immunity for peace talks undermines international justice. Alain Werner, director of Civitas Maxima, warns that such a move, though legally possible, would violate Switzerland’s obligations to the ICC and weaken its credibility as a defender of international law.
Anyone working to deliver justice for victims of international crimes knows that the judicial process can be hindered by political considerations at every stage. Recent news has once again reminded us of this harsh truth.
A Swiss court upheld the conviction of Alieu Kosiah, a former Liberian rebel leader, for war crimes, marking the first conviction for crimes against humanity in Switzerland. Meanwhile, a new treaty on international crimes was adopted, and a US arms dealer was convicted for torture in Iraq.
Benjamin Ferencz, the last Nuremberg prosecutor, passed away this month, leaving a legacy of accountability in international law. His work resonates amid significant legal actions, including the Swiss indictment of Gambia’s ex-minister for crimes against humanity and France’s upcoming trial of Syrian officials for war crimes.
