Tsahkna commended the Council of Europe’s leading role in ensuring accountability for Russia and combating impunity. He stressed that the special tribunal must begin its work as soon as possible in order to prevent impunity from becoming ingrained. “It is unacceptable that those who planned the aggression, mobilised the army and have sustained the war for more than four years have so far been able to evade punishment,” Tsahkna said. “For the sake of our own security, aggression must not be allowed to happen again. That is why the special tribunal must begin its work without delay, in order to gather the broadest possible body of evidence concerning the crimes committed by Putin and his accomplices.”
In February, Estonia became the first country whose parliament confirmed its readiness to contribute to the work of the special tribunal, including financially. Tsahkna expressed hope that significant progress in establishing the tribunal would already be achieved later this week at the meeting of the Council of Europe ministers in Moldova, where 34 Council of Europe member states, together with Costa Rica and the European Union, are expected to announce their readiness to participate in the tribunal’s work once it becomes operational and domestic procedures have been completed. “We continue to work actively to broaden global support for the special tribunal further, both among Council of Europe member states and non-member states. I have also discussed this issue with colleagues from Australia and Canada,” the foreign minister added.
The meeting also addressed the compensation mechanism for Ukraine operating under the auspices of the Council of Europe. Since 2023, the Register of Damage for Ukraine has operated within the Council of Europe framework, with the task of documenting the damage caused by Russia to the Ukrainian state, its people, cities and natural environment. Last December, the next pillar of the mechanism – the International Claims Commission for Ukraine – was signed, and it will determine compensation amounts corresponding to the damages sustained.
According to Tsahkna, it is important that as many countries as possible join efforts to support the commission and that progress continue on establishing the mechanism’s final pillar – the compensation fund – which would enable the actual payment of compensation for the assessed damages. “Estonia remains firmly of the view that all destruction caused by Russia must have just consequences,” the minister stressed.
The discussion also focused on the resilience of democracy and the rule of law in Europe. Tsahkna noted that the erosion of democratic principles, malicious influence activities and attempts to undermine the rules-based international order must be countered consistently and decisively. “These fundamental values are the cornerstones of Europe’s security and prosperity,” he stressed. “It is our responsibility to ensure that these values endure – both domestically and in international formats.”
Estonia supports the Council of Europe’s new democratic pact initiative and stands ready to cooperate closely with the Council of Europe and its partners in implementing it.
The joint press conference can be watched again here.
