Moldova joins Ukraine compensation commission through ratified convention
On Thursday, July 23, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova ratified the Hague Convention, which establishes the International Claims Commission for Ukraine. This new legal framework will enable Ukraine and its citizens affected by the war to seek compensation from the Russian Federation for damages incurred since February 24, 2022.
“The Convention establishes the International Claims Commission for Ukraine as an independent international administrative body within the framework of the Council of Europe. This Commission will examine and assess claims for damages, losses, or injuries caused by unlawful acts committed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, starting from February 24, 2022. It will also determine the amount of compensation owed in each case,” stated Doina Gherman, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, during a plenary session of the Legislative Assembly in Chisinau.
Authorities indicate that the types of damages eligible for claims may include loss of life, destruction of infrastructure, and damage to property.
Compensation claims can be submitted by affected individuals, legal entities, and the Ukrainian state, which includes regional and local authorities.
The Commission will have a different mandate from the Register of Damages for Ukraine, which was established by the Council of Europe in 2023. While the Register collects, classifies, and verifies the eligibility of claims, the new Commission will evaluate the merits of the claims, assess both material and moral damages, decide whether to admit or reject the claims, and determine the compensation amount for each case.
Once the Commission is established, the database and evidence accumulated by the Register of Damages will be transferred to it to ensure continuity in the claims process.
The creation of the Commission represents the second phase of the international compensation mechanism for Ukraine, based on the United Nations General Assembly resolution regarding reparations for damages caused by the Russian Federation's aggression. The first phase involved the creation of the Register of Damages, and this new structure will transform the documentation of losses into decisions on compensation awards.
The Convention was signed on December 16, 2025, in The Hague during a diplomatic conference organized by the Council of Europe and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The document was signed by Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, along with other participating states.
During the opening of the meeting, President Maia Sandu emphasized that the absence of accountability for aggression encourages the repetition of conflicts and that sustainable peace cannot exist without justice.
“This matters, first and foremost, for people—those who have lost family members, whose homes have been destroyed, and whose lives have been changed forever. The law cannot undo the loss, but it can recognize the damage, restore dignity, and affirm that suffering is neither invisible nor forgotten," declared the Head of State.
President Sandu highlighted that the Republic of Moldova supports all efforts that lead to a dignified and lasting peace, noting that the manner in which this war ends will shape the future of Europe.
"Peace without responsibility rarely lasts. Where responsibility is affirmed by law and institutions, societies are rebuilt. Where it is avoided or postponed, violence returns," President Maia Sandu stressed.
The purpose of the Convention is to ensure the international legal accountability of the Russian Federation for the violations of international law committed against Ukraine and to obligate it to provide full reparations for the damage caused. Furthermore, the ratification of this document does not make the Republic of Moldova a party to any international dispute with the Russian Federation or create an obligation for the state to compensate the injured parties.
To date, approximately 40 member states of the Council of Europe, along with Canada and the European Union, have signed the Convention. It will enter into force after ratification by at least 25 states or regional organizations, provided that the necessary funds for the Commission's initial functioning are available. According to the Council of Europe, the participating states are currently exploring potential sources of financing for the future compensation fund.
