The long-standing allegations of war crimes committed by Russian President Vladimir Putin have finally caught up with him as the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant against him. The decision of the ICC to take on the case marks a significant step towards accountability for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and Syria. The move also sends a clear message to other leaders and governments that they could be held accountable for their actions that violate international law. This article will discuss the ICC’s decision and its implications on the global political landscape.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, over their alleged involvement in the war crime of forcibly deporting children from Ukraine. The court in The Hague stated that the two individuals were “allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population [children] and that of unlawful transfer of population [children] from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation”. The move has been welcomed by Ukrainian officials, but denounced by Russian authorities. Russia has claimed that it is not subject to the ICC’s jurisdiction since it is not a party to the Rome Statute that established the court.
According to Ukraine, Russia has transferred 16,000 children from the country to Russia since it launched an invasion into its neighbour last year. The ICC’s arrest warrant marks a historic moment for international justice, with experts noting that Russia’s position on the ICC is not legally relevant since the court does have jurisdiction in the case of Ukraine. Erik Svanidze, a project manager at the Independent Defence Anti-Corruption Committee, noted that the move also highlighted the importance of protecting children during wartime. “The prosecutor has recognized that the incident…amounted to unlawful deportation of children as a war crime, and Russia’s authorities [are] responsible for that in the sense of the international criminal law. It is of utmost importance to protect children in times of war and conflict,” he said.
However, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has likened the arrest warrants to toilet paper. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has claimed that any warrants the ICC may issue would be legally null and void since Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute. On Twitter, Medvedev said that there was “no need to explain where this paper should be used” and ended his post with an emoji of a roll of toilet paper.
The ICC, with its 123 member states, relies on national authorities to detain suspects, but international justice experts have expressed concern that there could be difficulty in executing an arrest warrant for a serving head of state. The move comes amidst escalating tensions between Russia and the West. The US recently accused Russia of flying Su-27 warplanes so close to a US surveillance drone in the Black Sea that the drone crashed into the sea. Russia has denied involvement and has accused the US of flying in restricted airspace. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has also reportedly “issued an order to bestow state awards on the pilots of the Su-27 planes, who did not allow the US MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle to violate airspace that is restricted during the special military operation”.
The arrest warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova also follow several recent donations of Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets by NATO countries Slovakia and Poland to Ukraine’s air force. While advocates have stated that military aid is essential to enable Ukraine to defend itself and Europe against Russia, the Kremlin has stated that it will destroy any transferred warplanes. Eduard Heger, Slovakia’s Prime Minister, noted that the donation was a mark of Slovakia’s support for Kyiv.
However, the move has been criticised by Moscow. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, stated that the transfer of military equipment would be subject to destruction during “the course of the special military operation”. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate, with many international experts speculating that Putin aims to extend his regional power through expansionist policies such as those directed at Ukraine. The ICC’s move marks a bold statement against such policies, as well as against the war crime of forcibly deporting children during wartime.
