THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Inihayag ni International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan noong Lunes na naglulunsad siya ng pagsisiyasat sa “situasyon sa Ukraine” pagkatapos ng pagsalakay ng Russia.

“Today I wish to announce that I have decided to proceed with opening an investigation into the situation in Ukraine, as rapidly as possible,” sinabi ni Khan sa isang pahayag.

“I am satisfied that there is a reasonable basis to believe that both alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine,” mula noong 2014, idinagdag niya.

“Given the expansion of the conflict in recent days, it is my intention that this investigation will also encompass any new alleged crimes falling within the jurisdiction of my office that are committed by any party to the conflict on any part of the territory of Ukraine.“

Noong nakaraang linggo, sinabi ni Khan na ang korte na nakabase sa The Hague ay nakatanggap ng ilang mga katanungan “na may kaugnayan sa krimen ng pagsalakay” ngunit hindi maaaring gamitin ang “hurisdiksiyon sa di-umano’y krimeng ito” dahil hindi ang Russia o Ukraine ang may lagda sa nagtatag ng Rome Statute ng ICC.

“I will continue to closely follow developments on the ground in Ukraine, and again call for restraint and strict adherence to the applicable rules of international humanitarian law,” wika niya noong Lunes.

Noong 2014 at noong 2015, kinilala ng Ukraine ang kakayahan ng ICC na imbestigahan ang mga sinasabing krimen sa panahon at pagkatapos ng pagbagsak ng maka-Russian na lider na si Viktor Yanukovych at pagkatapos ng pagsalakay ng Russia sa Crimea, idinagdag niya.