Conflicts & War

Russia counters ICC arrest warrant with its own legal case

Moscow, Mar 20 (EFE).- Russia’s investigative committee on Monday opened its own case against the prosecutor and judges of the International Criminal Court after the Hague-based body issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin for the alleged war crimes of forcibly transferring children from occupied Ukrainian territory to the Russian Federation.

The Russian committee on Monday said the decision by the ICC was illegal and groundless.

In its own case the Russian committee named ICC prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan and three judges: Tomoko Akane, Rosario Salvatore Aitala and Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godínez.

The ICC on Friday issued warrants for Putin and his commissioner for children’s rights Maria Lvova-Belova. Both have been accused of being criminally responsible for the forcible transfer of civilians and children from Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia.

European leaders welcomed the arrest warrant, although it was criticized by China’s Xi Jinping, who on Monday began an official visit to Russia for the first time since Putin invaded Ukraine. EFE

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