UN hails arrest of Assad-era officer as 'significant moment of accountability' for Syria

The UN on Monday welcomed the arrest of Amjad Youssef, a Bashar Assad-era officer, linked to the 2013 Tadamon massacre in Syria, calling it a "significant moment of accountability for the country."

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during a news conference that Claudio Cordone, deputy special envoy for Syria, concluded his visit to Syria, where he described the arrest of Youssef as "a significant moment of accountability for the country."

"We welcome all efforts and steps taken towards ensuring accountability of all those responsible for international crimes potentially committed in Syria, with a view to placing the victims and their families at the center of justice," said Dujarric.

He stressed that transitional justice "requires a comprehensive strategy anchored in a legal framework aimed at achieving truth, accountability, reconciliation, reparations and non-repetition," adding that “affected communities must also have a genuine voice in shaping serious transitional justice strategy.”