Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Gordon Brown and Sir John Major want Putin in front of Nuremberg-style trial

The proposal already has over 140 signatories

Alan Jones
Saturday 19 March 2022 12:23 EDT
The former prime ministers have joined a campaign aiming to put the Russian president on trial
The former prime ministers have joined a campaign aiming to put the Russian president on trial (AP)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Gordon Brown and Sir John Major are among those calling for the creation of a new international tribunal to investigate Vladimir Putin and his underlings for their attacks in Ukraine.

The former prime ministers have joined a campaign – along with leading names from the worlds of from law, academia and politics – aiming to put the Russian president on trial alongside those who helped plan his invasion of 24 February.

Launched with a website and a target of two million petition signatures, the campaign – already backed by 740,000 people around the glove – seeks to gain public support for a special tribunal modelled on the Nuremberg trials.

(PA Graphics)
(PA Graphics) (PA)

The proposal already has more than 140 signatories, including both former prime ministers, Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Koleba, leading professor of international law Philippe Sands QC, former prosecutor for the Nuremberg Military Tribunals Benjamin Ferencz, Helena Kennedy QC and former president of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Sir Nicolas Bratza.

Mr Brown said: “In only two days, the petition supporting the tribunal has already secured well over 735,000 signatures and growing. Let us aim to get two million signatures for justice by the end of the month.

“From Britain – which rightly prides itself in democracy and the rule of law – the message must go out. At Nuremberg, we held the Nazi war criminals to account. Now, eight decades on, we must ensure there will be a day of reckoning for Putin.

“I urge everyone to sign this petition.”

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in