Durbin, Graham Statement On First-Of-Its-Kind War Crimes Charges By DOJ Related To Russian Invasion Of Ukraine

"Today's announcement by the Justice Department is a welcome step. The four Russian military personnel charged allegedly interrogated, tortured, and threatened to kill an American civilian during the Ukraine war--even holding a mock execution. Those horrific actions cannot and will not go unanswered.

We applaud the Justice Department for using the important tools in the War Crimes Act to prosecute perpetrators of horrific atrocities in Ukraine. America must continue its multifaceted approach to holding Vladimir Putin accountable for his brutal, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. While today's announcement is a step in the right direction, we will continue addressing the major gaps in our existing laws so that our government has all the tools it needs to prosecute these gut-wrenching offenses."

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