Russia files case against ICC judges who issued arrest warrant for Putin

This was reported by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. 

The Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case against the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Ahmad Khan and judges of the International Criminal Court Tomoko Akane, Rosario Salvatore Aitala and Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godinez.

The case followed the ICC issuing an arrest warrant for Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova.

"The criminal prosecution is deliberately illegal, as there are no grounds for criminal prosecution. In accordance with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons of 14.12.1973, heads of state enjoy absolute immunity from the jurisdiction of foreign states," the committee wrote.   

The Investigative Committee also stated that the actions of the prosecutor and judges of the International Criminal Court have signs of crimes, as well as "preparations for an attack on a representative of a foreign state" enjoying international protection, with the aim of "complicating international relations."

• On March 17, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Children's Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova.

• Representatives of various states and international organizations reacted to the ICC's decision. They were later joined by representatives of the United Kingdom and Canada, who unequivocally supported the court's position.

• US President Joe Biden said that the ICC's arrest warrant for Putin was justified because the Russian president had committed war crimes.  

• President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy also responded to the ICC's decision and emphasized that Russia would be held accountable for every act of terror against Ukraine and its people.

• On March 20, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev threatened a precision strike on the building of the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin.