Judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have issued arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation Maria Lvova-Belova on March 17, 2023, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Source: The International Criminal Court (ICC)
“Today, 17 March 2023, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “the Court”) issued warrants of arrest for two individuals in the context of the situation in Ukraine: Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Ms Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova,” informed the International Criminal Court.
It is noted that the President of the Russian Federation and the Commissioner of the President of the Russian Federation for Children’s Rights are suspected of war crimes in the form of illegal deportation and transfer of the population, including children, from the occupied territory of Ukraine, at least since February 24, 2022.
“There are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for the aforementioned crimes,” added the International Criminal Court.
According to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andriy Kostin, this means that “outside Russia, Vladimir Putin should be arrested and brought to court. And world leaders will think three times before shaking his hand or sitting down at the negotiating table with him.”
“The world has received a signal that the Russian regime is criminal and its leadership and accomplices will be held accountable,” said the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
Andriy Kostin called this decision historic for Ukraine and the entire system of international law, and also thanked ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan.
See also: International center for prosecuting the crime of Russian aggression will be created in The Hague
