The Swedish government is preparing to play a central role in the international tribunal that will seek to prosecute Russian leaders following the invasion of Ukraine. The Tidö government considers it crucial to imprison the Russian president in order to achieve a lasting peace.
– In the best of worlds, he would be behind bars already, says Maria Malmer Stenergard (M).
In an interview with Expressen on Thursday, the Swedish foreign minister revealed that the government has already played an active role in preparing for the international tribunal that will investigate Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
According to her, Sweden has been part of the core group of countries driving the process forward and has worked intensively to create the conditions necessary to bring responsible Russian political and military leaders to justice.
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It is not just the government that has pushed for this; the parliament has also approved the proposals required for Sweden to fully join the tribunal and ratify the relevant documents in the effort to imprison Russia’s president.
– Ultimately, it is about demanding accountability for the crime that Russia committed when it chose to start the war against Ukraine, that is, the crime of aggression. This is what you might call “the mother of all crimes,” she says, and continues:
– Had that crime not been committed, the subsequent crimes would not have occurred either, the Swedish foreign minister tells Expressen.
“He should already be behind bars”
Maria Malmer Stenergard is troubled by the fact that as president, Putin is currently immune from prosecution in the tribunal as long as he remains in office — but that this could change over time.
– In the best of worlds, he would already be behind bars. Of course, I want Vladimir Putin to bear the full responsibility for the heinous crimes he has instigated.
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But it is not only the Russian president who will face justice. The Swedish government’s ambition is also to prosecute others in top positions within the Kremlin’s political leadership as well as senior officers of the Russian military.
The Swedish government believes the establishment of the tribunal is a crucial step in demanding accountability for the war and at the same time creating the conditions for long-term and sustainable peace.
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The target is for the first legal proceedings to begin around the year 2030. At the same time, Sweden’s formal accession to the tribunal is expected to be completed soon.
Proposed ban on buying Italian clothes
Earlier this year, Samnytt reported that Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) proposed additional sanctions against Russia. As a way to increase pressure on the country, she wanted to stop the sale of European designer clothing to Russian consumers.
The proposal came after the foreign minister expressed frustration that Russians could still wear exclusive Italian designer clothes despite the ongoing war. At the same time, she admitted that the measure would not in practice have any major impact on Russia.
– It is not crucial for the Russian war economy, but it is morally right. It irritates me that wealthy Russian consumers can dress in expensive Italian designer clothes and drink fine French wine, said Malmer Stenergard.
But the proposals were not meant only to punish Russia economically, but also to send a clear signal about the EU’s values.
– A country should not be able to violate European values and still have access to exclusive European products, the Swedish foreign minister stated.
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