The leadership of the ICC considers unacceptable the decision of the Russian Federation to put their prosecutors and judges on the wanted list

The Presidium of the Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court (ICC) expressed concern that the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs put ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan and the organization’s judges Tomoko Akane, Rosario Salvatore Aitala and Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godinez on the wanted list. They are involved in issuing an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Children’s Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova. The ICC called this decision unacceptable, said press office court.

“The ICC considers these measures unacceptable. The Court will unswervingly fulfill its legitimate mandate to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes of concern to the entire international community,” the press service said in a statement.

The ICC stressed that it stands firm on the side of its staff and officials, and also called on all States parties to the Rome Statute to intensify their efforts to protect the court, its officials and staff and ensure the organization’s ability to continue to fulfill its independent mandate.

The ICR opened a criminal case against the prosecutor and judges of the ICC on March 20, three days after the issuance of an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova. According to the department, their signs contain elements of a crime under the article “Bringing a knowingly innocent person to criminal liability.” On May 19, the Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Khan.

The ICC in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin and Russian Children’s Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova in mid-March 2023. The court explained that the decision was connected with the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.” The Kremlin responded by saying that the very question of Putin’s arrest was “outrageous and unacceptable.”

Erdni Kagaltynov