Riga, July 12, LETA. In the criminal trial investigated by the Latvian State Security Service (VDD) regarding the crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine, 25 refugees have been recognized as witnesses, while two Ukrainian citizens have currently been recognized as victims, the LETA agency found out.
On March 15, the VDD started a criminal trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity and peace in Ukraine committed by the Russian armed forces. The criminal process was started according to three norms of the Criminal Law. The criminal trial is supervised by the prosecutor’s office.
The VDD agency LETA clarified that in the mentioned criminal process, the investigation group led by the VDD has so far heard 49 persons who had applied to testify about the crimes committed by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine.
Of the mentioned persons, 25 war refugees have been recognized as direct witnesses of war crimes and crimes against humanity and peace by the Russian armed forces.
In the course of the investigation, the VDD has also obtained photo and video materials from the witnesses, which record the crimes of the Russian armed forces, and added them as evidence to the criminal case. Hearings of other possible witnesses are currently ongoing.
Two Ukrainian citizens have been recognized as victims in the criminal proceedings.
VDD did not provide further comments.
It has already been reported that in the early morning of February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the order to start the invasion of Ukraine. As a result of the war, thousands of refugees have arrived in Latvia so far, some of whom have applied to testify in the criminal proceedings investigated by the VDD.
In the criminal process, evidence is collected about crimes against humanity carried out by the Russian armed forces, including murder, extermination, torture and other crimes against civilians, as well as crimes against peace, namely, planning, preparing, inciting aggression, participating in it and waging an aggressive war, as well as war crimes, such as unjustified destruction of cities or other objects and other violations of international humanitarian law.
Prosecutor General Juris Stukāns signed an agreement in The Hague in May on Latvia’s participation in the Joint Investigation Group (JIG), which focuses on crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.
–
