蜜芽传媒

Ukraine鈥檚 President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russian forces are committing genocide in his country. However according to Philippe Sands, a Professor of Law and Director of the Centre on International Courts and Tribunals at University College London, in order to prove genocide, Ukraine needs 鈥渢o prove an intention to destroy a group in whole or in part鈥� and that 鈥渋s not immediately apparent鈥�.

He tells Newsday images of bodies strewn in streets and residential areas being bombed 鈥渋s evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity but it doesn鈥檛 look to me as though it reaches the definition of genocide鈥�.

Instead he says the main crime in this case 鈥渋s the crime of aggression鈥�waging a manifestly illegal war would be reasonably easy to establish 鈥� that is Mr Putin鈥檚 decision, that is his responsibility鈥�.

(Picture: A demonstrator holds a sign depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Adolf Hitler reading "Genocide" during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Madrid on February 27, 2022. Credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)

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