Arrest warrant issued for Putin over alleged war crimes

BBC reported that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The court alleges he is responsible for war crimes, and has focused its claims on the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia. It says the crimes were committed in Ukraine from 24 February 2022 – when Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

Moscow has denied the allegations and labelled the warrants as “outrageous”.

It is highly unlikely that much will come of the move – the ICC has no powers to arrest suspects, and can only exercise jurisdiction within its member countries – and Russia is not one of them. However it could affect the president in other ways, such as being unable to travel internationally.

Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, is also wanted by the ICC for the same crimes.