Minister Habijan signs Memorandum of Understanding with Minister of Justice of Ukraine

Minister of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation Damir Habijan participated in the United for Justice Conference dedicated to accountability for attacks on civilian infrastructure objects, held in Kyiv on 11 September.

The aim of the conference was to raise the awareness of the international community about crimes against the civilian population of Ukraine, with a special emphasis on attacks against civilian infrastructure objects, from energy grids to healthcare, education and science facilities, as well as the illegal sale of technology to Russia, which leads to vast destruction of the civilian infrastructure.

The conference was opened by President Zelenskyy.

Minister Habijan addressed the participants, emphasising support for Ukraine and continued cooperation in terms of sharing Croatian experience in the prosecution of war crimes, and recalling the suffering of the civilian population and the mass destruction of civilian objects during the Croatian War of Independence.

During his stay in Ukraine, Minister Habijan held a bilateral meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna. They discussed co-operation in the field of European integration, with a focus on Chapter 23, as well as the exchange of experience with respect to ensuring accountability for war crimes, and possibilities of cooperation between the prison systems of the two countries.

Minister Habijan also met with Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andriy Kostin to discuss possibilities for further cooperation regarding the exchange of knowledge and experience with Croatian experts in the prosecution of war crimes, with special emphasis on the protection of victims and witnesses and the prosecution of sexual violence related to armed conflicts.

As part of a larger Croatian delegation on a working visit to Ukraine, led by the Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković, Minister Habijan participated in a meeting with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a meeting with Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.

In the margins of the latter meeting, and in the presence of the two Prime Ministers, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, which will intensify cooperation primarily in the exchange of knowledge, experience and practices in the field of justice, with an emphasis on Chapter 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights) and EU accession negotiations in the area of justice.

Photo: Govt of RC / MoJPADG

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