Mykola Hnatovskyi Takes Leadership Role at the European Court of Human Rights
Ukrainian judge Mykola Hnatovskyi has been appointed as the head of a section at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), beginning his tenure on November 1, 2026. Alongside him, Belgian judge Frédéric Krens was also chosen to lead another section. Hnatovskyi is a seasoned international lawyer with extensive ties to the Council of Europe, having been elected three times as the chair of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture.
Following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Hnatovskyi championed the establishment of a special tribunal aimed at holding Russian President Vladimir Putin and his associates accountable for crimes of aggression. However, after his 2022 appointment to the ECHR representing Ukraine, he stepped back from this initiative. Since June 2022, Hnatovskyi has been involved in adjudicating cases filed by Ukraine against Russia, as well as cases where Ukraine is the respondent.
Progress on the Special Tribunal to Address Russian Aggression
The Special Tribunal is an international judicial body designed to prosecute Russia's top political and military leaders for the aggression against Ukraine. Key developments took place between 2025 and 2026. Early in 2025, the European Parliament received a proposal to establish this tribunal. In June 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić signed an agreement in Strasbourg to set it up.
- On May 15, 2026, the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers adopted a decisive resolution advancing the tribunal's creation.
- This resolution laid down the administrative and operational framework for the tribunal, including provisions for broad international participation.
- A total of 37 countries ratified the Extended Partial Agreement to form the tribunal’s Governing Committee.
- In July 2026, the Netherlands confirmed its willingness to host the tribunal on its soil.
Hnatovskyi’s appointment as section head at the ECHR marks a significant achievement for Ukraine on the global legal stage. His expertise in human rights and experience with war-related cases position him to influence the future interpretation of international law in the context of armed conflict and aggression. Meanwhile, the establishment of the Special Tribunal signals increased international commitment to ensuring accountability for war crimes, which is vital for upholding justice and regional stability.