Why arrest warrant issued by ICC for Vladimir Putin is a hogwash

On Friday (March 17), the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over alleged warfare crimes and illegal deportation of youngsters to Russia from Ukraine.

In an announcement, ICC claimed, “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…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).”

While talking to the BBC, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan remarked, “Children can’t be treated as the spoils of war, they can’t be deported…This type of crime doesn’t need one to be a lawyer, one needs to be a human being to know how egregious it is.”

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant towards Russian President Vladimir Putin citing warfare crimes in Ukraine. Moscow has denied accusations that its forces have dedicated atrocities throughout Russia’s one-year-old invasion of its neighbor https://t.co/YpCekhofSI pic.twitter.com/kz82yBoXDF

— Reuters (@Reuters) March 17, 2023

Meanwhile, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s human rights chief, claimed that 16221 kids have been deported to Russia whereas solely 308 have been repatriated to Ukraine. The high-handedness of the International Criminal Court has been applauded by ‘human rights groups’.

While talking in regards to the growth, affiliate worldwide justice director at ‘Human Rights Watch (HRW)’ Balkees Jarrah said, “This is a big day for the many victims of crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine since 2014.”

She claimed, “With these arrest warrants, the ICC has made Putin a wanted man and taken its first step to end the impunity that has emboldened perpetrators in Russia’s war against Ukraine for far too long.”

US President Joe Biden says Vladimir Putin had clearly dedicated warfare crimes in Ukraine and the ICC difficulty of an arrest warrant was justified https://t.co/jmpKIdgdxA pic.twitter.com/p4T4iJfTVh

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 18, 2023

“The court’s warrants are a wakeup call to others committing abuses or covering them up that their day in court may be coming, regardless of their rank or position,” Jarrah added.

As anticipated, the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for the Russian President was welcomed by Joe Biden. He stated, “I think it’s justified…But the question is, it’s not recognized internationally by us, either. But I think it makes a very strong point.”

Similarly, Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed ICC’s overreach as ‘historic’ and ‘real prospect (for justice to be served).’

Russia responds to ICC

The Russian authorities has rubbished the arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin as ‘outrageous’. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that ICC’s directives are null and void.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova identified, “(It has) 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 is not cooperating with this body.”

The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant towards Vladimir Putin. No want to clarify WHERE this paper needs to be used🧻.

— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) March 17, 2023

Former Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, went on to match the arrest warrant to rest room paper. He stated in a tweet, “The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin. No need to explain where this paper should be used.”

Jursidiction of the International Criminal Court

While the International Criminal Court doesn’t recognise immunity loved by the heads of state in instances of warfare crimes and crimes towards humanity, it lacks the ability to prosecute people.

As such, the courtroom can’t arrest Vladimir Putin regardless of having issued an arrest warrant towards him. It additionally can’t put the Russian President on a trial or attempt him in absentia. ICC depends on member States to behave as its sheriffs.

Interestingly, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and the United States usually are not events to the Rome Statute, which led to the institution of the International Criminal Court. Having stated that, it might probably have an effect on the worldwide journey of Vladimir Putin and result in additional isolation of Russia.

Members of the ICC are certain by an obligation to arrest Putin if he units foot on their soil. However, such a transfer is unlikely as a result of concern of an imminent warfare.

The case of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who had excellent arrest warrants towards him however was profitable in evading them, exhibits that the present warrant towards Vladimir Putin is ineffective and could have no ramifications in any respect within the ongoing Russia-Ukraine battle.