An arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin can help end his rule in Moscow, the expert claims. Sir Geoffrey Nice, who was the chief prosecutor at the Hague trial of former Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic, said the move by the International Criminal Court (ICC) was “hugely important and not just symbolic”. He added that it could “encourage the process [Putin’s] replacement”.
Speaking on Friday, Mr Nice told Sky News:
He added that “labeling and treating your leader as a criminal around the world can make regime change ‘more palatable or attractive’ to Russians.”
The expert continued. “It’s important because this man is now, as many would say he should have been a few weeks after the war started, being labeled as a criminal.
“This is now a real war, a just war as far as Ukraine is concerned, and a criminally-led war as far as Russia is concerned. And that’s extremely valuable.”
Putin’s regime is accused of war crimes for many reasons. Russia’s retreat from areas near Kiev last year left behind evidence of the appalling treatment of the Ukrainian people.
Locals in Bucha and Irpin spoke of rape, torture and murder in their towns.
The ICC issues its arrest warrant on charges of targeting civilian infrastructure and abducting Ukrainian children.
It is difficult to know how many children were taken from Ukraine to Russia by Putin’s forces.
The Yale Laboratory for Humanitarian Studies released a report last month claiming that Russia has taken at least 6,000 children from Ukraine and sent them to Russian “re-education” camps.
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On Friday, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said. “Incidents uncovered by my office include the deportation of at least hundreds of children taken from orphanages and child care homes.”
He continued. “My office maintains that these actions, among others, demonstrate the intent to remove these children from their country forever.
“We must ensure that those responsible for the alleged crimes are brought to justice and that the children are returned to their families and communities… We cannot allow children to be treated as if they were war booty.
“There are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for the aforementioned crimes.”
Throughout the war, reports documented Russian strikes hitting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals.
Russia has denied all allegations of war crimes.
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As expected, Russian government officials and allies rejected the arrest warrant.
Former President of Russia and Putin’s ally Dmitry Medvedev tweeted: [toilet paper emoji]”.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said. “We do not recognize this court, we do not recognize its jurisdiction.”
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova also said. “The decisions of the International Criminal Court have no significance for our country, including from a legal point of view.
“Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and has no obligations arising from it.”