The Parliament of Estonia has passed a law ratifying the convention establishing the International Compensation Commission to review claims for compensation to Ukraine for damages caused by Russia’s aggression.

ERR and Ukrinform report this.

Sixty-eight members of the Riigikogu voted in favor; there were no votes against or abstentions.

According to Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, the creation of this Commission is an important step on the road toward holding Russia accountable.

Russia’s aggression daily violates international norms. The Ukrainian people, their cities, infrastructure, as well as nature and the environment, have fallen victim to the military machine. The Compensation Commission, together with the already existing Damage Registry, will help ensure that impunity does not take root, and all crimes committed are fairly compensated

– Margus Tsahkna

The foreign minister stressed that the next step is to find practical and internationally effective solutions that will ensure real payments for the damages incurred.

Mechanism of operation and future steps

The Compensation Commission will verify the legitimacy of claims related to damages caused by Russia and determine the amounts of payments.

The next step will be the creation of a compensation fund that will reimburse the country, its citizens, and businesses for the claims approved by the Commission.

According to Ukrinform, the Convention on the Establishment of the International Compensation Commission for Ukraine, which is part of the mechanism for compensating damages caused by Russia’s aggression, was signed on December 16 in The Hague by 34 states and the European Union. The Convention will enter into force when at least 25 parties ratify it, whose contributions to the budget are sufficient to ensure sustainable funding for the Commission’s work.

Ukraine must receive fair compensation for all the damage caused – for the restoration of people and the economy, as well as for the natural environment. Therefore, it is crucial that the convention garner the broadest possible international support and that allied countries jointly contribute to creating the mechanisms

– Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs