The President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović sent a video message to the Summit on Russia's responsibility for crimes in Ukraine, which is being held today in Kyiv, the President's Office announced.
He reminded that it has been a year since the world saw, as he says, the terrifying images of murdered, raped and wounded Ukrainian civilians in Bucha.
"The scenes of an unprecedented massacre on the soil of Europe in the 21st century, in front of which we remained silent, still cause sadness and anger today. The crime in Buca illustrates the horror experienced by the Ukrainian people since the beginning of the Russian aggression," Djukanović said.
According to him, the recently published report of the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine unequivocally stated that the Russian authorities committed a wide range of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
"Many of these violations constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity," Đukanović said.
He also said that he believes that we all agree that all of this must receive a strong response from the international community, the fight against impunity for the crimes committed is, as he says, the first step on that path.
"Conducting a thorough investigation and achieving responsibility for committed war crimes, including responsibility for the crime of aggression, is a prerequisite for sustainable peace. That is why we are here today. The Ukrainian people deserve justice. They deserve freedom and peace," Djukanovic said.
He said that Montenegro welcomes efforts and initiatives to ensure accountability, including for the crimes of illegal deportation and transfer of children from the occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia, the establishment of the International Center for Criminal Prosecution for Crimes of Aggression and the sending of forensic missions to Ukraine.
"Since the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, we have witnessed a flagrant violation of international law, which should worry us all. Russian aggression unequivocally reminds us of the need to respect the Charter of the United Nations, its binding character and the universality of the goals and values on which international peace and security are based," he added. Djukanovic.
He said that aggression is an attack on the international community as a whole.
"Our task is not only to demand responsibility for what has been done, but to do everything in our power to ensure that the crime of aggression and the massacre in Buča never happen again anywhere," said Đukanović.
On this occasion, he paid his respects to the Ukrainian people who, as he believes, show incredible courage and resistance to Russian brutality.
"Ukraine today defends the values of civilization, the freedom of all of us, our right to free choice, security and justice. Montenegro will continue to stand strongly and steadfastly by your side. Glory to Ukraine," Djukanović concluded.
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