The Hague: International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of being responsible for war crimes committed in Ukraine.

Moscow has repeatedly denied accusations of atrocities during its one-year-old invasion of its neighbour. Spokeswoman for Russia’s foreign ministry said arrest warrant against Putin had “No significance whatsoever”. ICC issued warrant for Putin’s arrest on suspicion of unlawful deportation of children and unlawful transfer of people from territory of Ukraine to Russian Federation. ICC move came day after UN-mandated investigative body accused Russia of committing wide-ranging war crimes in Ukraine, including wilful killings and torture, in some cases making children watch loved ones being raped and detaining others alongside dead bodies.

News of arrest warrant also came ahead of planned state visit to Moscow next week by Chinese President Xi Jinping which is likely to cement much closer ties between Russia and China just as relations between Moscow and West hit new lows.

Russia has been placed under unprecedented Western sanctions since he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 18 2023

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