News and Events

Ukraine's 'Nuremberg Moment' Amid Flood of Alleged Russian War Crimes

Prof. Zvobgo was recently interviewed for and quoted in "Ukraine's 'Nuremberg Moment' Amid Flood of Alleged Russian War Crimes" in Foreign Policy on due process for Russian personnel in Ukrainian courts. Read article here. #InternationalJustice #Russia #Ukraine

HowStuffWorks: Why the U.S. Hasn't Always Supported the International Criminal Court

Dr. Zvobgo was interviewed this week by Patrick J. Kiger and quoted in "Why the U.S. Hasn't Always Supported the International Criminal Court" in HowStuffWorks. The United States has an uneasy relationship with the ICC: It is the culmination of the international criminal justice regime the country helped architect after World War II, however United States does not accept the court's jurisdiction over U.S. personnel. Read the article here. #InternationalCriminalCourt #Russia #

Prof. Zvobgo on SiriusXM: The Michael Smerconish Program

Listen to Dr. Zvobgo's recent interview with Michael Smerconish, on accountability for the war in Ukraine and complementarity of domestic, regional, and international courts. Listen here. #Russia #Ukraine #InternationalJustice

The International Criminal Court is a Court of Last Resort

Thanks to CNN anchor Michael Smerconish's team for the invitation to write about complementarity between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Ukraine's courts. The hope of the international justice regime is for justice to be meted out at the domestic level. So Ukrainian courts have a major role to play in addressing atrocities by Russia, even with the ICC operating. Read the essay, coauthored by IJL fellows Zoha Siddiqui, Nathaniel Liu, Daniel Posthumus, and lab direct

The Council of Europe expelled Russia. That hurts people, not Putin.

On March 16, the Council of Europe – Europe's largest intergovernmental organization – expelled Russia for abuses in Ukraine. The Council, set up after World War II to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe, deemed Russia's invasion incompatible with membership in the organization. Russia, a member since 1996, had announced one day earlier, on March 15, that it would leave. The decision would have taken effect at the end of the year, on December 31. App

Dr. Zvobgo on CNN

On April 9, Dr. Zvobgo had a live television interview with CNN Newsroom anchor Fredricka Whitfield on the likely challenge of prosecuting Russian president Vladimir Putin for war crimes. CNN Newsroom interview with Fredricka Whitfield #InternationalCourtofJustice #InternationalCriminalCourt #Ukraine #Russia

Vox: Here's what the ICC can actually do about Putin's war crimes

IJL director Kelebogile Zvobgo was interviewed last week by Ellen Ioanes and quoted in "Here's what the ICC can actually do about Putin's war crimes" in Vox. The International Criminal Court won't be a panacea for alleged atrocities by Russia in Ukraine, Zvobgo suggests. It is a court of last resort, with a global mandate and limited resources. Read the article here. #InternationalCriminalCourt #Russia #Ukraine

NPR: Charging Putin for potential war crimes is difficult, and any penalty hard to enforce

Dr. Zvobgo was recently interviewed by Bill Chappell and quoted in "Charging Putin for potential war crimes is difficult, and any penalty hard to enforce" for NPR, on prospects for international justice for Ukraine. Part of NPR's special series "Ukraine invasion — explained."Read the article here. #Ukraine #Russia #WarCrimes #InternationalJustice

Prof. Zvobgo on ABC News

On April 5, Prof. Zvobgo had a live television interview with ABC News anchor Diane Macedo on prospects for international accountability for Russian president Vladimir Putin. ABC News Live interview with Diane Macedo #Ukraine #Russia #WarCrimes #Genocide #InternationalJustice

IJL director on NPR's Here & Now

IJL director Kelebogile Zvobgo spoke on NPR's Here & Now with podcast host Peter O'Dowd on the challenges of prosecuting war crimes. Listen here. #Ukraine #Russia #WarCrimes #Genocide #InternationalJustice

Dr. Zvobgo gives solidarity lecture at Kyiv School of Economics

On Monday, March 28, Dr. Zvobgo spoke about challenges and opportunities for international justice for Ukraine at the Kyiv School of Economics, as part of the #GlobalMinds4Ukraine solidarity lecture series. Amidst unspeakable violence, faculty, students, and staff at KSE are continuing the mission of the university – educating, empowering, and equipping citizens for positive action and change. Many thanks to KSE for their important work. See here, for more information. #Ukrai

The ICJ ordered Russia to halt military operations in Ukraine. What comes next?

On March 16, judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled Russia must halt military operations in Ukraine. This is the first judgment in a series of international legal disputes, with both countries alleging genocide and other crimes. IJL fellow Daniel Posthumus and Prof. Zvobgo's explainer for the The Washington Post to learn what the ICJ is, what Kyiv and Moscow are alleging, what the court has decided so far, and why it matters. #InternationalCourtofJustice #Uk

Dr. Zvobgo on ABC News, CTV News

On March 16, Dr. Zvobgo had two live television interviews on Ukraine's case against Russia at the International Court of Justice. The first was with Diane Macedo on ABC News Live and the second was with Marcia MacMillan on CTV News (Canada). Dr. Zvobgo's interviews built on recent news published with IJL research fellows Daniel Posthumus, Nathan Liu, and Zoha Siddiqui. ABC News Live interview with Diane Macedo CTV (Canada) interview with Marcia MacMillan [link] #Internationa

Putin won’t end up at The Hague – but war-crimes prosecutions of Russia still matter

Three weeks into Russia’s invasion, Ukraine is fighting back — in the streets but also in the courtroom. Three international courts (the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court, and European Court of Human Rights) are investigating Russia's conduct. Read IJL fellow Nathaniel Liu and Prof. Zvobgo's explainer for the The Washington Post, which discusses the cases, possible judgements, and likely consequences. #InternationalJustice #Ukraine #Russia

Could Putin Actually Face Accountability at the ICC?

The International Justice Lab has been monitoring the war in Ukraine and tracking possibilities for international justice. In Foreign Policy, IJL fellows Zoha Siddiqui, Nathaniel Liu, Daniel Posthumus, and lab director Dr. Kelebogile Zvobgo explain what the International Criminal Court (ICC) can and cannot do with respect to Ukraine and Russia, both non-ICC members. #InternationalCriminalCourt #Ukraine #Russia