Appeal in Alieu Kosiah Case and Upcoming Trial of Kunti K. in Paris The case of Alieu Kosiah, former United Liberation Movement of Liberia (ULIMO) sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for his role in the First Liberian civil war, will go in appeal in January 2023. The Appeal proceedings in front of the Swiss Federal […]
Switzerland: Denunciation filed on the attack of a Swiss Journalist by Russian Forces
English version Switzerland: Denunciation filed on the attack of a Swiss Journalist by Russian Forces On August 17, 2022, the Ukrainian NGO Truth Hounds – assisted by Civitas Maxima – filed a denunciation with the Attorney General of Switzerland. Since 2014, Truth Hounds has documented international crimes committed in Ukraine. Truth Hounds’ team has carried out […]
In Coppet, A Crime Against Humanity
In Coppet, A Crime Against Humanity The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), which played a major role in the opposition to the Shah’s regime, was subjected to a brutal repression organized by the new mullahs’ regime shortly after the fall of the Shah in 1979. Under the aegis of Ayatollah Khomeini, the suppression of […]
The Fight Against Impunity at the Heart of Swiss Foreign Policy
The Fight Against Impunity at the Heart of Swiss Foreign Policy Compared to the rather meager efforts of the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in the field of universal jurisdiction, Switzerland has a good foreign policy track record in the area of international criminal law. In light of its longstanding humanitarian tradition, Switzerland has long been committed […]
The Trial that Made Swiss Judges Go Down in History
The Trial that Made Swiss Judges Go Down in History On June 18, the Federal Criminal Court issued a judgment convicting Alieu Kosiah, Liberian national arrested in Lausanne, for war crimes committed during the First Civil War in Liberia. How and why were Swiss judges able to pass judgment on a foreign national who has […]
Prosecution of crimes under international criminal law: a clarification!
Prosecution of Crimes Under International Criminal Law: a Clarification! By amending the Criminal Code in 2011, in particular from article 264 onwards, following the ratification of the Rome Statute 10 years earlier, the Swiss legislator opened up a new legal field. It entrusted the civil justice system, i.e. the Office of the Attorney General of […]
International Justice: the Slowness of Switzerland
International Justice: the Slowness of Switzerland Despite the recent conviction of a Liberian warlord, Switzerland is still struggling to become a leading player in the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes. It is, however, well equipped to follow the lead of many European countries in prosecuting perpetrators of the worst atrocities. The analysis […]
Liberian Plaintiffs Make Swiss and Liberian Legal History
Liberian Plaintiffs Make Swiss and Liberian Legal History Bellinzona, Switzerland – Seven Liberian plaintiffs have made legal history, both in Switzerland and Liberia. They persisted in their quest for justice for over seven years, despite the Ebola outbreak of 2014-2015 and the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020-2021. The Swiss Federal Criminal Court today issued a landmark verdict […]
Alieu Kosiah case: verdict date announced
Alieu Kosiah case: verdict date announced Alieu Kosiah, former ULIMO commander, stood trial in Bellinzona, Switzerland, in December 2020 and in February 2021 for four weeks for the crimes he allegedly committed in Lofa County, Liberia, between 1993 and 1996. He is charged with 25 counts of war crimes, including murders, forced transports, looting, rape, […]
New dates set for Alieu Kosiah Trial in 2020
Press Release – 21 August 2020 New dates set for Alieu Kosiah Trial in 2020 Today, the Swiss Federal Criminal Court announced that new dates have been set for the trial of Alieu Kosiah, former United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) commander. After being postponed twice due to the spread of COVID-19, the […]
