The International Bar Association (IBA), supported by PravoJustice4EU , has embarked on the latest in a series of trainings run by the IBA in support of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine in collaboration with its Department for International Cooperation.
The International Cooperation in Criminal Proceedings Training took place in Poland between 8-10 September 2026, following similar successful programmes in 2025 and early 2026 with the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine War Crimes Department regarding the prosecution of environmental war crimes. This training and the ongoing relationship with the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine reasserts the IBA's commitment to Ukraine, its legal profession and upholding the rule of law in the country.
The training saw 20 Ukrainian prosecutors travel from Ukraine to Krakow to take part in a three-day workshop facilitated by international experts drawn from IBA committees, including the Business Crime Committee , Criminal Law Committee and War Crimes Committee , supported by the Energy , Environment , Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section (SEERIL).
Mark Ellis, IBA Executive Director, commented: 'It is a great honour for the IBA to continue to support our Ukrainian colleagues in this practical way. The responsibility of the international community to assist Ukraine as it pursues accountability for crimes committed since the Russian invasion is one we take very seriously. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our colleagues across the legal profession and the people of Ukraine.'
The IBA training team was drawn from jurisdictions which have successfully engaged in legal cooperation with Ukrainian authorities in the past. The training was practical in nature and comprised modules focused on (among others):
- preparing Ukrainian requests for international legal assistance in cases concerning war crimes;
- the European Arrest Warrant;
- the principle of universal jurisdiction; and
- the reasons why certain states refuse to extradite to Ukraine.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the number of criminal offences against peace, the security of humankind and the international legal order has increased significantly, resulting in a substantial rise in the number of requests for international legal assistance submitted by Ukrainian authorities to their foreign counterparts.
Viacheslav Levytskyi, representative of the Prosector General's Office of Ukraine, said: 'We are fortunate to have taken part in such a well-structured, balanced and dynamic workshop, particularly the opportunity to learn from the practical experience of parties involved in criminal proceedings across the European Union. It has been especially valuable to gain a deeper understanding of the European Arrest Warrant in light of Ukraine's commitment to enshrining the principle within the national justice system by the end of 2027.'
George Artley, IBA Legal Manager who led the training, added: 'It has been invaluable to assemble this wide range of IBA experts from all over the world to assist Ukraine's prosecutors as the country strives to uphold the rule of law in the face of the Russian invasion. The connections forged between our countries are tangible and longstanding and this week has reaffirmed our commitment to Ukraine and its legal professionals.'
