Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Council of Europe and OSCE Secretary General Discuss Holding Russia Accountable

The minister published details of the meetings on the X social network, Ukrinform reports.

During a meeting with the Secretary General of the Council, Era Alain Berset, Sibiha noted that the emphasis is on the next steps to ensure accountability for the criminal acts committed by Russia.

“I am grateful to the Council of Europe for its continued support and leadership in the joint efforts to hold Russia accountable for its violations of international law. These efforts have contributed to the creation of the Register of Damage to Ukraine and the forthcoming establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. Ensuring accountability is essential to achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace,” Sibikha wrote.

He also added that during a conversation with OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu, they discussed Ukraine's latest steps towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

“I informed the Secretary General about the facts of Russia's violation of the ceasefire in the energy sector, as well as its merciless terror against the civilian population. I also emphasized the need to release OSCE staff members Maxim Petrov, Vadim Gdy and Dmitry Shabanov, who have been under illegal arrest in Russia for more than three years,” said Sybiga.

Read also: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Meets with Colleagues from Slovakia and Moldova

The Antalya Diplomatic Forum is taking place in Turkey, with about 20 heads of state and more than 70 ministers participating.

OSCE Special Monitoring Mission staff members Vadim Gda, Maksym Petrov and Dmitry Shabanov were detained in April 2022 in Russia-occupied Donetsk and Luhansk while carrying out their official duties under the mandate of all 57 OSCE participating States. All three were charged with espionage.

In September 2022, Petrov and Shabanov were “sentenced” by Russian occupation “courts” to 13 years in prison. In July 2024, the so-called “Supreme Court of the DPR” sentenced Gdu to 14 years in a maximum security penal colony.

Photo in text: Andrey Sibiga / X