Who issued the arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin?
An arrest warrant is needed for the police to arrest someone who has committed a crime. A court issues this warrant. The police use these warrants to investigate crimes and carry out their duties.
On 17 March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova. She is Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights. The warrant was issued because they reportedly deported 16,000 children from Ukraine to Russia since the war began.
These are the first warrants issued by the ICC for crimes committed during the Russia-Ukraine war.
What will happen to Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova?
The ICC is unlikely to be able to prosecute Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova since Russia does not recognise the court. Russia also refuses to hand over its citizens for trial in another country. However, they could be arrested if they enter any ICC member country.
The warrant remains a significant event for various reasons. It shows that senior Russian officials may face criminal charges now or in the future. This will limit their ability to go abroad. In the future, new cases can be filed against Putin.
What is the International Criminal Court?
The ICC was founded in 1998. It was created to investigate and prosecute anyone charged with genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity. The court aims to arrest those responsible for such crimes. It seeks to prevent similar crimes from happening in the future.
ICC’s head office is located in The Hague, Netherlands. It has 123 member nations, including the United Kingdom (UK), Japan, Afghanistan, and Germany. Countries like India, China, and the United States of America (USA) are not members.
What did we learn from this article?
We learned that nobody is above the law, not even the president of a country. If someone does something wrong and hurts another person or animal, they will be punished sooner or later. Do you agree? Tell us in the comments below!
