The main news yesterday and today is the ICC issuing arrests warrants for Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova for illegally taking children out of Ukraine into Russia. How did the world react, and what dos it really mean?
The warrants are largely symbolic and have been publicly issued as a deterrent to stop Russia from committing more war crimes. This is an unusual step, because Putin is the leader of a permanent member of the UN Security Council and one of the superpowers in thew world, and to issue a warrant while the war is ongoing—some would say it is still in its infancy.
However, Russia does not recognise the jurisdiction of the court (and the US doesn’t either) which is why they ICC have opted to pursue the specific crime that applies to the Geneva Convention ( Russia revoked the protocol on war in 2019) in relation to war victims. The problem is that many states violate the Geneva Convention and there is no entity that can enforce any action against them.
What does it mean for Putin? It means that his travel is restricted because technically any country that has ratified the Rome Statute and who recognise the ICC, have an obligation to detain those who have been indicted by the ICC. That doesn’t mean the country will do it, but are expected to do so. The reasons are that Putin could be smuggled into a country without the authorities knowing, and also the ICC cannot punish a country for failing to arrest someone.
It means that Putin cannot attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi, or if he does, then he could be arrested. Basically, both are safe if they never leave Russia.
How will the Russians react? The citizens may react angrily, those who are brainwashed, while others who support democracy might feel there is a chance for a new government soon. As for the Kremlin, they have dismissed the warrant as expected, but will it deter them? Somehow I doubt it, although it is a brave move by the ICC (who appear to be evolving), but now it is for the UN to act, for how can Russia remain a permanent member of the UN Security Council when the leader has a warrant out for his arrest from the ICC?
The very question is outrageous and unacceptable. Russia, along with several other states does not recognise the jurisdiction of that court (ICC), and thus any decisions of this kind for Russia or null and void from a legal point of view. (Dmitry Peskov)
The decisions of the International criminal Court have no meaning for our country, including from a legal point of view. Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute of the International criminal Court, and bears no obligations under it. Russia does not cooperate with this body and possible ‘recipes’ for arrest coming from the international court will be legally Noel and void for us.(Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Kremlin.)
Day 388 (18 March 2023)
Russia reacted to the ICC arrest warrant by threatening to destroy any fighter jets delivered to Ukraine. This comes after the announcement from Slovakia that they will supply Ukraine with 13 MiG-29 fighter jets.
Of course, during the special military operation, all this equipment will be subject to destruction. (Dmitry Peskov.)
The warrant detailed the alleged crimes committed by Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova (commissioner for children’s rights):
…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 Russian deny the children were deported and claimed they were saving them but taking them to good Russian homes to be re-educated.
The ICC has made this public as they believe it could ‘contribute to the prevention of the further commission of crimes.’ However, as Russia is not a signatory to the ICC, and the court must rely on the cooperation of the countries that do recognise the court to detain Putin and Belova. Therefore, the two suspects cannot be extradited.
Finland has the support of Hungary and Turkey to join NATO, however, Turkey has not ratified the Swedish application for membership still.
To date, 16,000 children have been illegally deported to Russia or Russian controlled areas.
The ICC prosecutor Karim Ahmed Khan visited some of the children who had been taken in order to reach his conclusion that a war crimes had been committed.
While there, I visited one of the care homes, from which children are allegedly, taken close to the current front lines of the conflict. The accounts of those who had cared for these children and their fears as to what has become of them underline the urgent need for action. We must ensure that those responsible for alleged crimes are held accountable and the children are returned to their families and communities.
Russian propaganda as a reaction to the arrest warrants have the pro-Kremlin supporters calling for attacks on EU capital cities.
Another reaction, is Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner group who is now advertising himself on state television, as he appears to be making a bid to run for president!
In Germany, a company in Kiel was fined €1.3 million for supplying a hydraulic hammer which was used on the Kerch bridge. This was a violation of the sanctions that had been imposed against Russia.
On this day, 9 years ago, Crimea was annexed by Russia. Putin (or a Putin lookalike) visited a children’s centre in Sevastopol to refute the claims made in the ICC warrant.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative continues for 120 more days, even though the Russian protect that they only agreed 60 days.
Zelenskyy has issued orders to impose sanctions against Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, and other Iranian military leaders.
Several Russian ships were spotted in the Black Sea, and it is believed it is because they are searching for the drone debris
.
Video call with US defence officials took place to discuss the spring counteroffensive that they are preparing.
8 Ukrainian officials took part as well as Zelenskyy. While the Americans included Lloyd Austin (US Defense Secretary), and Jake Sullivan (US national security advisor.)
Putin and the ICC Arrest Warrant