Warrant for Putin's arrest serves as message to Russian elites

This was stated by the executive director of the Ukrainian Institute for the Future, Vadym Denysenko.

"The warrant came as an absolute surprise for Putin. He never thought that someone would dare to declare him an internationally wanted man. This is a humiliation for him and he fears it the most. This is another blow to his frightened psyche. His fear goes beyond the scale, the Russian empire never had such a quaking tsar," he said.

According to Denysenko, The Hague's decision is a message to the Russian elites rather than to Putin himself.

"They have all been told that their future does not exist as long as he is in power. This is another of Putin's fears because he understands that he has to watch the elites twice as attentively. Before, he just saw the sanctions being imposed on his oligarchs and subordinates. Now his subordinates are contemplating what will happen next. Unfortunately, we cannot say that there will be riots or coups in the near future. But the tension will increase, and the elites will be in turmoil about how to leave the country, hide their money in other countries. These processes will go on," he believes.

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

• On March 19, Germany announced that it would be obliged to detain Vladimir Putin if he appeared on the country's territory to comply with the decision of the International Criminal Court.

• On March 20, Medvedev threatened to target the building of the International Criminal Court.