Former German ministers file war crimes complaint on Russia

BERLIN (AP) — Two former German ministers have submitted a criminal complaint with federal prosecutors seeking the opening of a war crimes probe against Russian officials — including President Vladimir Putin — over the conflict in Ukraine. The complaint cites German laws allowing the prosecution of serious crimes committed abroad. Germany’s application of the rule of “universal jurisdiction” led to the first conviction of a senior Syrian official for crimes against humanity earlier this year. The criminal complaint targets not just the Russian leadership but also numerous members of the Russian military. It comes as the weekly Der Spiegel reports that Germany’s foreign intelligence agency has intercepted radio messages between Russian soldiers discussing the killings of civilians in Ukraine.