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Investigative Committee Academy hosts international conference dedicated to 70th anniversary of Nuremberg trials

The Academy of the Investigative Committee has today become a venue for international conference The Results of Nuremberg Trials and Modern Challenges dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the trials. The international military tribunals in Nuremberg initiated by the Soviet Union, USA, Great Britain and France were held to investigate crimes against the peace and humanity committed by members of the leadership of Nazi Germany. The courts handed down 12 death sentences. The Nuremberg Trials had prosecuted not only the leadership of the Third Reich, but its political system, ideology, the SS and Gestapo, as well as gave strict assessment to Nazi collaborators.

The conference was attended by Vice Chairman of the Investigative Committee Alexander Gyodorov, veteran of the Great Patriotic War and President of the international non-governmental organization Outstanding Military and Naval Commanders of the Fatherland, Councilor of Justice Alexander Sukharev, former Deputy Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Honored Lawyer of the Russian Federation Alexander Zvyagintsev, President of the Military Sciences Academy, Army General Makhmut Gareyev, Acing Chancellor of the RF Investigative Committee Academy Anatoly Bagmet, staff of the Investigative Committee’s central office, veterans of investigation, as well as scientists, scientific associates, postgraduate students and regular students of Russian leading universities.

Opening the conference Mr. Fyodorov pointed out the contribution the Nuremberg Trials made to the development of the international criminal law noting their importance to the modern stage of the society’s development.

The conference pointed out that neo-Nazi parties had gained more influence in Europe again, especially in Ukraine, and were propagandizing ideas of ignominiously defeated fascism and the idea of killing civilians.

The Russian Investigative Committee is investigating events taking place in two flashpoints beyond the Russian borders: in South Ossetia and in Ukraine. This work has revealed some kind of a logical connection between the tragic events in the said regions and other places of tension. There is every reason to suggest that such conflicts were provoked by active interference of outer forces into domestic affairs of sovereign states.

In 2008, the Investigative Committee gathered evidence of armed aggression of Georgia against South Ossetian people. Criminal and international legal prospects of the crimes committed in South Ossetia and investigated by the Investigative Committee play most prominent role in further destiny of the international security system dealing with a fundamental legal principle of punishment unavoidability along with the authority of the international law.

Since 2014, the Investigative Committee has been investigating dozens of cases over multiple murders of civilians committed in Southeastern Ukraine, the use of prohibited means and methods of warfare, genocide of the Russian-speaking population and other crimes. Warrants have been issued to hold as defendants both some members of the Ukrainian military leadership and military servants who executed their illegal orders to kill civilians. The investigators intend to see all those investigations finished and to have all the guilty ones answer for their crimes in accordance with principles laid out by the Nuremberg Trials.

Participants of the discussion heard all the speakers, discussed legal and historical aspects of the Nuremberg Trials, their importance and influence on historical consciousness and modern international law. They paid special attention to countering the ignoring and misinterpretation of its decisions.

Concluding the conference those in attendance noted particular urgency of the topic under modern conditions and the necessity to openly discuss the results of the Nuremberg Trials in order to prevent history from being forged. The participants agreed that the Nuremberg Trials were a special event in the history of humankind marking the retribution for genocide and war crimes and punishment for attempts on civilians. The trials had basically established the universal moral standard, ignoring of which will no doubt lead to new tragedies.