Opinion: 80 Years Since Nuremberg — Can Putin Face Justice?

On the 80th anniversary of the Nuremberg Tribunal, which established the modern legal framework for prosecuting war crimes, analysts are drawing parallels with the conflict in Ukraine and the question of accountability for Russian leadership. The Nuremberg precedent showed that even heads of state can be held criminally responsible — but also that prosecution is enormously difficult while perpetrators remain in power. International legal scholars debate whether existing mechanisms — from the ICC to a potential special tribunal for Russia — are adequate. The anniversary is a reminder that justice after atrocity is possible, but rarely swift.