The US State Department supported the creation of a so-called "hybrid tribunal" to investigate the crime of Russian aggression, which official Kyiv calls unacceptable.

 This was stated by US State Department Global Criminal Justice Ambassador Beth Van Skaak on March 27 during a speech at a conference at the Catholic University of America in Washington, Voice of America writes.

 Skaak noted that there were many different models of tribunals under consideration. According to the representative of the State Department, after analyzing all the pros and cons, the United States came to the conclusion that "the most effective way to ensure responsibility for crimes of aggression involves the creation of an internationalized (in the original internationalized. - Ed.) court within the judicial system of Ukraine."

 According to her, such efforts will include "subject matter jurisdiction over international crimes, the involvement of international personnel, possibly by integrating professionals, judges, prosecutors, investigators, lawyers or by providing expert assistance at the request of Ukraine."

 Skaak noted that the tribunal could potentially be located somewhere in Europe, at least during wartime.

 "This will further strengthen the European orientation of Ukraine, the international legitimacy of such an institution and will be of great importance for it, as well as contribute to the provision of assistance by strong states to the investigation of the crime of aggression," she said.

The representative of the State Department added that such a court will not require a resolution of the UN General Assembly on the creation of a new independent international institution, the establishment of which requires time and resources.

 "Such a hybrid court will also demonstrate Ukraine's leadership in ensuring responsibility for the crime of aggression fully within the framework of the national legal system," she said.

 To the question of the Ukrainian service of "Voice of America" ​​about whether there is an international consensus and support for the creation of a similar hybrid model of an international tribunal to investigate the crime of Russian aggression, the representative of the State Department replied that it has not yet been possible to reach a final consensus.

 "I don't think that a final consensus has been reached yet. There are two models that are being considered: this model is the Ukrainian tribunal, which will have an international character and will have a lot of international support, and another option that can be created by the UN General Assembly.

 The authorities of Ukraine are considering both options. The preference for a more separate international institution was expressed, but there are fears that it may not be possible to gather the necessary votes in the General Assembly to create such an institution," she explained.

 It will be recalled that President Zelenskyi's office publicly declared the inadmissibility of the idea of ​​creating a so-called "hybrid tribunal" as a tool for investigating the crime of Russian aggression.

 The European Commission confirmed that the "hybrid tribunal" against the Russian Federation was not removed from the discussion, despite Ukraine's disagreement.