International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin
Pre-Trial Chamber II Finds Sufficient Evidence of War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and Genocide
17 March 2023
The Hague, Netherlands – On Friday, March 17, 2023, the Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The warrant alleges that Putin is responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022.
The ICC's investigation into potential war crimes in Ukraine began shortly after the Russian invasion. The investigation has been ongoing, and the Pre-Trial Chamber II has now determined that there is sufficient evidence to issue an arrest warrant for Putin.
The arrest warrant for Putin comes after the Pre-Trial Chamber II considered evidence gathered by the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor. The evidence includes reports of extrajudicial killings, torture, rape, and other inhumane acts committed by Russian forces in Ukraine.
The ICC's arrest warrant for Putin is a significant development in the ongoing investigation into war crimes in Ukraine. It is the first time that the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for a sitting head of state.
The ICC is an independent international court that investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The Court was established in 2002 by the Rome Statute, and it has jurisdiction over crimes committed in countries that are party to the Statute or that have accepted the jurisdiction of the Court.
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