Russia has dismissed “war crimes” accusations against its president as null and void
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday alleged that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova may have committed war crimes by “deporting ” and “transferring ” children from Ukraine. Moscow has dismissed the move as preposterous and not legally binding, since Russia has never ratified the court’s jurisdiction.
What does the ICC claim?
issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Lvova-Belova, accusing them of personal and command responsibility for what they described as “unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine.” The accusations appear to be based on the Kiev government’s interpretation of Russian efforts to evacuate civilians away from frontline areas that the Ukrainian military has targeted, often with NATO-supplied weapons.
What does the warrant mean?
Is Russia alone in not recognizing the ICC?
“all means necessary and appropriate” to release any American – or national of an allied country – from the Hague, by military force if necessary.
What was the Russian reaction?
“outrageous and unacceptable.” Senator Andrey Klishas, from the ruling United Russia party, said the ICC had just put itself on the road to self-destruction. Former president and deputy chair of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev compared the warrant to toilet paper. Crimean Senator Sergei Tsekov warned that the ICC decision demonstrates that Western-created institutions have become “worthless and insignificant.” Lvova-Belova sarcastically thanked the “international community” for appreciating her work to help rescue children from the zone of combat operations.
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