Oleksiy Shevchuk has been added to the list of defense counsel for the International Criminal Court
Ukrainian attorney Oleksiy Shevchuk has been added to the list of attorneys at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
According to Shevchuk, for him this is not just a professional status, but the result of long-term preparation and hard work.
“For me, this is not just another professional status. It is a great honor, an extraordinary responsibility, and at the same time the result of the long-term work that preceded this decision,” the lawyer noted.
He also emphasized that he is proud of the opportunity to be among the Ukrainian lawyers admitted to practice within the ICC system. Among the Ukrainian colleagues he named are Ilya Novikov and Denis Kishkentiy.
Shevchuk explained that his inclusion on the list was preceded by the collection and preparation of professional materials, verification of his experience and qualifications, and training in and study of the ICC’s regulatory framework—specifically the Rome Statute, the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, and other documents.
“International criminal law is a distinct legal reality. It is not enough to be an experienced national attorney. One must understand the specifics of the ICC’s jurisdiction, the procedures for admitting evidence, standards of proof, the procedural status of the parties and participants in the proceedings, the rights of victims, guarantees of a fair trial, rules of professional ethics, and the specifics of working with evidence obtained in the context of an international armed conflict,” the attorney wrote.
In his view, the presence of Ukrainian lawyers in international judicial institutions is of great importance to Ukraine.
“We talk a lot about the need to hold those responsible for international crimes accountable. But international criminal justice cannot exist without a strong, professional, and independent bar,” Shevchuk noted.
He emphasized that the right to defense, representation of victims, observance of procedural guarantees, and the principle of a fair trial are integral components of justice.
“It is the rule of law that must remain our fundamental response to crimes,” the attorney stressed.
Shevchuk announced that he plans to submit his candidacy for relevant rotations and appointments at the Court and to continue his practical work within the ICC system.
Separately, the attorney drew attention to the prospect of establishing a Special Tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine. He emphasized that the ICC and the future Special Tribunal are mechanisms that differ in their legal nature and jurisdiction, which, in his view, should complement one another.
“The International Criminal Court and the future Special Tribunal on the Crime of Aggression are mechanisms that differ in their legal nature and jurisdiction. They should not be pitted against one another. On the contrary, they should form a complementary architecture of international criminal accountability,” he noted.
At the same time, Shevchuk emphasized the importance of the ICC’s institutional independence and Ukraine’s active participation in shaping the international criminal justice system.
“To achieve this, we need our own specialists: Ukrainian prosecutors, Ukrainian judges, Ukrainian scholars, Ukrainian diplomats, and, of course, Ukrainian attorneys capable of working professionally in accordance with the rules of international criminal procedure,” the attorney wrote.
According to him, being included on the ICC’s list of defense counsel is not an end in itself, but rather the beginning of a new professional phase.
“I sincerely hope that there will be more Ukrainian lawyers in the ICC system. That Ukraine will gradually develop its own strong school of international criminal law. I hope our lawyers will not only observe the development of international justice but actively shape it,” Oleksiy Shevchuk concluded.
Source: Lawyer Shevchuk’s social media accounts.
As a reminder, Oleksiy Shevchuk stated that all proceedings against him based on complaints had been closed and that restrictions against him had been lifted.
Attorney Shevchuk withdrew his statement regarding his resignation from the SAPO commission and is asking Kovalsky to revoke Kravchenko’s order.
Oleksiy Shevchuk appealed to embassies and international media to halt the competition for the positions of deputy and head of the SAP.
