Georgia was not among over thirty countries that, during the May 14-15 Council of Europe meeting, expressed their intent to join the new Enlarged Partial Agreement that will pave the way to the establishment of a Special Tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
36 countries, including 34 CoE members, Australia and Costa Rica, as well as the European Union, “expressed their intention to join a new Enlarged Partial Agreement establishing the Management Committee of the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine,” CoE announced on May 15, during the annual 135th meeting of CoE Minister of Foreign Affairs in Chişinău.
According to the CoE, the Tribunal “will investigate, prosecute and try those who are primarily responsible for the crime of aggression against Ukraine,” aiming to “fill a gap in the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and will hold senior figures involved in this crime to account.”
The press release cited CoE Secretary General Alain Berset as saying during the meeting that those committing to the agreement “have taken a decisive step towards the actual establishment of the Special Tribunal and the recognition of responsibilities for the aggression against Ukraine.”
“Action now needs to be taken to follow up on this political commitment by securing the Tribunal’s functioning and funding. The time for Russia to be held to account for its aggression is fast approaching. The path ahead of us is one of justice – and justice must prevail,” Berset said.
Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, who took part in the meeting, explained the decision not to join the initiative with caution amid the “risks” for Georgia as well as “attitudes” from EU countries.
“The attitude towards Georgia from some members, EU members, of course, does not give us the possibility and luxury to make certain decisions, which will create additional risks and threats for our country and may place Georgia before certain heightened risks and challenges,” Botchorishvili told reporters.
Among the CoE countries that committed to the agreement were: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom.
Those not joining the initiative, alongside Georgia, included: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Malta, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovakia, and Turkey.
The decision came amid what looks like Ukraine-initiated efforts seeking to reset relations between Kyiv and Tbilisi, erstwhile close allies, after years of strained relations. Following a series of renewed contacts, Botchorishvili again spoke with her Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, during the CoE Ministers’ meeting.
Tbilisi’s move also contradicts its longtime claims that, despite unease in bilateral ties, it has supported Ukraine in international forums amid Russian aggression. Earlier, in December 2025, Georgia signed a convention establishing the International Claims Commission for Ukraine, a measure intended to ensure repayment of war damages for Ukraine amid Russian aggression.
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