On September 20, within the framework of an official visit to the United States of America, Attorney General Andriy Kostin met with the US Attorney General and Minister of Justice Merrick B. Garland. The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss efforts to prosecute those involved in war crimes and other atrocities committed during Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.
During the meeting, the parties outlined directions for strengthening cooperation and signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate cooperation, coordination and elimination of conflict situations in relevant investigations and prosecutions conducted in each of the countries.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said: “The United States stands with the people of Ukraine in their tireless efforts to uphold the rule of law and seek justice for victims of ongoing Russian aggression. Today, the Department of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General announced our decision to work more closely together to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those involved in war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine. We will be uncompromising in these matters."
"The Memorandum of Understanding signed today allows us to intensify our joint efforts to ensure accountability for international crimes. By establishing an official framework for cooperation, we will strengthen the effective investigation and prosecution of crimes committed by the Russian military in Ukraine, as well as ensure justice for the victims," ​​stressed Andriy Kostin.
The memorandum will contribute to increasing the effectiveness of investigations and prosecutions following national legislation, removing barriers to the timely and effective exchange of information and evidence between the two countries, and facilitating technical cooperation.
Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin also expressed deep gratitude to the US Attorney General and Secretary of Justice Merrick B. Garland for creating the War Crimes Accountability Team and appointing Eli Rosenbaum as a leading advisor. The group was created as a result of Mr. Garland's visit to Ukraine on June 21, 2022. The main goal of the Group is to centralize and strengthen the ongoing work of the US Department of Justice to prosecute those who committed war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine. A central component of the Panel's mission is the further investigation of potential war crimes over which the United States has jurisdiction. Such as the murder and wounding of American journalists who covered Russian aggression in Ukraine. Andriy Kostin also thanked for the legal advice provided by the Group to Ukrainian prosecutors in individual war crimes cases.
The Prosecutor General's Office also created an Interdepartmental Working Group on Asset Freezing in Ukraine. It is authorized to coordinate the efforts of law enforcement agencies and other government agencies of Ukraine involved in the search, seizure and confiscation of assets related to persons directly or indirectly engaged in Russian aggression.
Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin expressed readiness to establish close cooperation with the Task Force KleptoCapture (TFKC), created by the US Department of Justice. The Group is authorized to use civil and criminal asset forfeiture authorities to seize assets of sanctioned persons or assets identified as proceeds of illegal activity. Since its inception, the Group has, among other things, facilitated the seizure and confiscation of assets such as yachts and aircraft of sanctioned individuals with close ties to the Russian authorities, dismantled Russian criminal networks and enforced sanctions.
Andriy Kostin expressed his gratitude for the help of the KleptoCapture Group and the Asset Recovery and Anti-Money Laundering Section of the Criminal Division of the US Department of Justice, as well as the Office of International Affairs of the US Department of Justice. He emphasized that "we must act together to prove that war criminals do not hide. War crimes of the Russian Federation will be investigated, and their perpetrators will be punished."
