The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The ICC accuses Putin of committing war crimes.
The warrant cites the charge as the “unlawful deportation” of Ukrainian children.
Breaking News: The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin of Russia for war crimes. The court said that Putin bore individual criminal responsibility for the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children. https://t.co/FM93YQ3uMA pic.twitter.com/t2fh3FjNdJ
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 17, 2023
BREAKING:
The International Criminal Court in the Hague has just issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin. pic.twitter.com/QvKY1NsfaK
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 17, 2023
The ICC said in a statement:
“Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, born on 7 October 1952, President of the Russian Federation, is 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 (under articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute).
“The crimes were allegedly committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022.
“There are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for the aforementioned crimes, (i) for having committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through others (article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute), and (ii) for his failure to exercise control properly over civilian and military subordinates who committed the acts, or allowed for their commission, and who were under his effective authority and control, pursuant to superior responsibility (article 28(b) of the Rome Statute).
“Ms Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, born on 25 October 1984, Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, is 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 (under articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute).
“The crimes were allegedly committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022.
“There are reasonable grounds to believe that Ms Lvova-Belova bears individual criminal responsibility for the aforementioned crimes, for having committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through others (article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute).
“Pre-Trial Chamber II considered, based on the Prosecution’s applications of 22 February 2023, that there are reasonable grounds to believe that each suspect bears responsibility for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population and that of unlawful transfer of population from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation, in prejudice of Ukrainian children.
“The Chamber considered that the warrants are secret in order to protect victims and witnesses and also to safeguard the investigation.
“Nevertheless, mindful that the conduct addressed in the present situation is allegedly ongoing, and that the public awareness of the warrants may contribute to the prevention of the further commission of crimes, the Chamber considered that it is in the interests of justice to authorise the Registry to publicly disclose the existence of the warrants, the name of the suspects, the crimes for which the warrants are issued, and the modes of liability as established by the Chamber.
“The abovementioned warrants of arrests were issued pursuant to the applications submitted by the Prosecution on 22 February 2023,” the ICC said.
This is a developing story – check back for updates.
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