Joe Biden considers ICC arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin ‘justified’

On Friday, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian president because the international institution, however, is not officially recognized by the United States.

The arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Vladimir Putin for “justified” war crimes.Joe Biden said on Friday.

The US president, speaking to reporters at the White House, noted that the institution was not recognized by the United States, but felt that his decision nonetheless sent a “very strong signal”.

An arrest warrant has been issued for the head of the Russian state for a war crime “Illegal deportation” of Ukrainian children during the Russian invasion.

The International Criminal Court also issued an arrest warrant on Friday against Maria Lvova Belova, Russia’s presidential commissioner for children’s rights, on similar charges.

Washington has “no doubt” that Moscow is committing “war crimes” in Ukraine

The United States “has no doubt that Russia is committing war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine, and we have made it clear that those responsible will be held accountable,” had already responded a little earlier via a State Department spokesperson, emphasizing that the ICC operates “independently.” .

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the decision on Friday Whoever saw it as “a historic decision that marks the beginning of a historic responsibility.”

For its part, Moscow ruled that this arrest warrant had no legal value.. Russian President Dmitry Peskov’s spokesman said: “Russia, like a number of countries, does not recognize the jurisdiction of this court. Therefore, from the point of view of law, the decisions of this court are null and void.”

‘A significant moment in the justice process’

ICC President Piotr Hofmansky said the issuance of the arrest warrants represented an “important moment in the court’s justice process”.

He explained that the arrest warrants, which were issued at the request of ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, relate to “alleged war crimes for deporting children from the occupied Ukrainian territories to the Russian Federation” since the start of the invasion.

More than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the invasion on February 24, 2022, according to Cave, and many have been placed in institutions and foster homes.