Minister for Justice Inese Lībiņa-Egnere emphasised: “Dictator Putin’s senseless, full-scale, and bloody war of aggression, imagined as a ‘three-day war’ but lasting already for more than three years, has killed and maimed countless Ukrainian defenders and civilians. The Ljubljana–The Hague Convention is therefore of particular importance in the context of the war in Ukraine, where effective documentation and investigation of war crimes are essential. The mechanisms it contains will promote holding accountable those responsible for the brutal crimes committed against civilians and for war crimes. Justice must prevail, and it is our responsibility, as the democratic world, to ensure it.”
Until now, international cooperation in the investigation of war crimes was based on bilateral agreements or specialised jurisdictions. The Convention offers a unified mechanism for obtaining evidence, extradition, and mutual legal assistance. It improves cooperation between states by removing unjustified legal and practical obstacles to investigations and the exchange of evidence, fostering consistent accountability for the gravest international crimes.
The Ljubljana–The Hague Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and Other International Crimes was adopted on 26 May 2023 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and opened for signature on 14 February 2024. Latvia signed it on 10 February 2025.
Ratification of the Convention confirms Latvia’s commitment to actively contributing to the strengthening of international rule of law and the promotion of justice. The Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Prosecutor General have been designated as the central authorities for the application of the Convention in Latvia.
More information on the draft law concerning the Ljubljana–The Hague Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and Other International Crimes is available on the Saeima website.