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Justice ministers from around the world will gather in London to support the International Criminal Court's investigations into war crimes in Ukraine. The move comes after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, accusing him of being personally responsible for child abductions in Ukraine. The UK is increasing its financial support for the court, based in The Hague in the Netherlands, to £1 million this year with other countries also expected to pledge financial and practical assistance.
More than 40 nations will be represented at the meeting hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab and Dutch Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius, at Lancaster House.
Justice Secretary Raab said: "We are meeting in London today, united by a common cause, to hold war criminals to account for the atrocities committed in Ukraine during this unjust, unprovoked and illegal invasion."
"The UK, together with the international community, will continue to provide the International Criminal Court with the necessary funding, staff and expertise to ensure that justice is done."
Ahead of the conference, the UK government offered new support and funding for psychological help for crime victims and witnesses, more UK experts to work for the ICC, and training for investigators on the use of evidence tools to conduct war criminals brought to justice.
The conference will be opened with speeches by Minister of Justice of Ukraine Denys Maliuska and Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, as well as ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan KC.
The ICC's arrest warrant for Putin was the first issued against a leader of one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
The court also issued an arrest warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian commissioner for children's rights.
The Kremlin called the decision against Putin "scandalous and unacceptable."
PA wire
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