Milbank LLP partner Viren Mascarenhas, associate Pierre-Philippe Turnbull, and Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG) colleagues have co-authored a discussion of how Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and continued use of force thereafter violates international humanitarian law (“IHL”).
In “Violations of International Humanitarian Law Should Lead Toward International Criminal Responsibility,” published online by Ukrainian human rights organization the Center for Civil Liberties, the authors outline the historical legal background for holding Russia and Russian-sponsored actors, such as the Wagner Group, accountable for breaches of IHL, and why it is crucial for the international community to seek legal accountability. The authors also discuss what is already being done to pursue accountability, as well as the legal, political and other obstacles that may arise while investigating and prosecuting the individuals responsible for abuses of human rights, violations of international law and related crimes in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Milbank has worked closely with PILPG on a range of international pro bono peace and human rights issues, including contributing to policy development for Ukraine. The firm was recognized as a PILPG Partner in Excellence in 2022 for delivering exceptional results for its pro bono clients. Milbank and PILPG also recently co-authored “Conceptualizing IHL: Denial of Quarter,” which discusses the legal context of potential Russian denial of quarter war crimes in Ukraine.
