Kamala Harris accuses Russia of ‘crimes against humanity’

February 18, 2023

Vice President Harris accused Russia of committing crimes against humanity during a major address Saturday in Germany.

In the keynote speech of the Munich Security Conference, Harris laced into Russia for its “widespread and systematic attack” against civilians during its yearlong war in Ukraine.

“Their actions are an assault on our common values, an attack on our common humanity,” Harris said, citing evidence of execution-style killings, rape and torture. “The United States has formally determined that Russia has committed crimes against humanity.”

“Let us all agree: on behalf of all the victims, both known and unknown: justice must be served.”

The vice president reiterated US support for Ukraine and warned that “we will make sure that whoever was involved in those crimes will be held accountable”

A bulding in Ukraine set on fire. — Harris called systematic assaults of Ukrainian civilians by the Russian military forces “an attack on our humanity.”

“If Putin thinks he can wait us out he is badly mistaken. Time is not on his side. I am certain that Ukraine, U.S. and Europe will rise to the task,” Harris said.

Harris’ accusation of crimes against humanity raises the prospect that Russia’s actions during the invasion could one day be adjudicated in the International Criminal Court.

Russian president Vladimir Putin, whose war in Ukraine has now been going on for more than a year — February 24 will mark a year since Russian president Vladimir Putin declared a “special operation” in Ukraine.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement Saturday saying the US determination was based on “a careful analysis of the law and available facts.”

The Biden administration had previously determined in March that Russia had committed war crimes in Ukraine and said the US would work with other countries to internationally prosecute offenders. However, “crimes against humanity” is a designation that goes a step further, because it indicates that the attacks are being carried out systematically on a wide scale.

Harris said on Saturday that, as the former head of California’s Department of Justice, she understands the “importance of gathering facts and holding them up against the law.’

“In the case of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, we have examined the evidence, we know the legal standards, and there is no doubt,” she said. “These are crimes against humanity.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba echoed Harris’ accusations in an interview with the Associated Press.

A woman in Ukraine evacuates with a child. — Harris’ accusaiton raises chances that the International Criminal Court will take action against Russia for crimes against humanity in the future.

“Russia waged a genocidal war against Ukrainians because they do not recognize our identity and they do not think we deserve to exist as a sovereign nation,” Kuleba said. “Everything that stems from that is crimes against humanity, war crimes and various other atrocities committed by the Russian Army.”

“Let lawyers sort out specifically which act belongs where in terms of legal qualification,” he added.

With Post Wires