War in Ukraine: ICC issues arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, December 21, 2022. AFP - MIKHAIL KIREYEV

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The International Criminal Court (ICC) said Friday it has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for responsibility for war crimes committed in Ukraine since the Russian invasion.

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Today, 17 March 2023, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against two persons in connection with the situation in Ukraine: Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Ms Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova 'Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights in Russia,'" the ICC said in a statement.

Situation in #Ukraine: #CPI judges issue arrest warrants against Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova ⤵️https://t.co/6NeSh4GS7i

— ICC-Int. Criminal Court (@CourPenaleInt) March 17, 2023

Vladimir Putin "is presumed responsible for the war crime of illegal deportation of population (children) and illegal transfer of population (children) from the occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation," the court added.

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Permentally responsible for the crimes

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The crimes were allegedly committed on the territory of Ukraine occupied at least from 24 February 2022 The ICC continued, adding that there were "reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Putin is personally responsible for the aforementioned crimes." On Monday, the New York Times reported that the ICC was preparing to prosecute Russians for transferring children to Russia and for deliberate strikes on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

The ICC has been investigating possible war crimes or crimes against humanity committed during the Russian offensive for more than a year. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said earlier this month after a visit to Ukraine that alleged child abductions were "under priority investigation." Neither Russia nor Ukraine are members of the ICC, but Kiev has accepted the court's jurisdiction over its territory and is working with the prosecutor. Russia denies allegations of war crimes. Experts admitted that it was unlikely to hand over suspects.

► Read also: War in Ukraine: what role for the International Criminal Court?

(

With AFP)

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  • Russia
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