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Joly ups cash for International Criminal Court sex-crime probes, as Russia rift grows

Dec 1, 2022 | 9:53 AM

OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is announcing another $1 million for the International Criminal Court.

The money is meant to support the court’s investigations into sexual and gender-based violence everywhere, as Canada helps that agency look into possible Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

Joly is speaking in Poland at a summit of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, one of the last forums where Russia and the West have diplomatic relations.

The 57-member group is best known for monitoring elections, but has also helped stabilize countries after conflicts from Bosnia to Tajikistan.

Poland barred Russia from attending the summit, but Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov argued in a virtual press conference that sidelining Moscow won’t lead to peace in Ukraine.

Joly responded that Russia is rejecting dialogue and has “shattered trust” between countries.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 1, 2022.

— With files from The Associated Press

The Canadian Press