The leader of a U.N. investigative body has reached out to Syria‘s new authorities, indicating a readiness to collaborate and visit the country to gather evidence that may link high-ranking officials of the previous government to potential wrongdoing, he stated on Tuesday.
This month, rebels have successfully ousted President Bashar al-Assad, leading to the release of prisoners and the reopening of government offices. This development has sparked renewed optimism for accountability regarding the atrocities committed throughout Syria’s protracted civil conflict, which has lasted over 13 years.
Robert Petit, head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM), addressed a press briefing in Geneva, stating, “Our priority would be to go and try and scope the extent of the issue, see exactly what is available in terms of access and potential evidence, and then see how we could best assist in preserving that.”
“The opportunity to obtain evidence of the utmost significance regarding the regime is now available,” he stated.
Established in 2016, the U.N. body is tasked with investigating and aiding in prosecuting the gravest offences committed in Syria since 2011. The organisation has amassed a substantial 283 terabytes of data and is collaborating with national prosecutors from Belgium, France, and the United States in ongoing investigations related to Syria.
Petit stated that some evidence had been lost during the transition in Syria but emphasised that it was too early to determine the extent of the loss.
