Updated March 18th, 2023 at 12:57 IST
Ex-Russian President Medvedev likens ICC arrest warrant for Putin to toilet paper
Former Russian President and deputy chair of the Security Council of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev has likened the ICC's arrest warrant for Putin to a toilet paper.
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Dmitry Medvedev, the former President of Russia and current Deputy Chair of the Security Council of Russia, has likened the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin to toilet paper. Taking to Twitter, Medvedev said, "The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin. No need to explain WHERE this paper should be used," with the toilet paper emoji.
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin. No need to explain WHERE this paper should be usedđ§».
â Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE)
A spokesperson of the Russian Foreign ministry asserted that the ICC arrest warrant against Russian Putin has "no meaning" for the country, "including from a legal point of view" as the nation had withdrawn from the ICC treaty in 2016. Rejecting the warrant on Friday, Maria Zakharova said, "Russia is not a member of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and bears no obligations under it. Russia does not cooperate with this body, and possible (pretences) for arrest coming from the International Court of Justice will be legally null and void for us."
Russia is not a member of Rome Statute of ICC & bears no obligations under it. Russia doesn't cooperate with this body & possible warrants for arrest coming from the International Court of Justice will be legally null and void for us: Russian Foreign Ministry Spox Maria Zakharova https://t.co/oYNeQeFroN pic.twitter.com/pFcIqI6oEo
â ANI (@ANI)
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia doesnât recognise the ICC and considers its decisions âlegally voidâ. He called the courtâs move âoutrageous and unacceptableâ. Peskov refused to comment when asked if Putin would avoid making trips to countries where he could be arrested on the ICCâs warrant.
Ukraine & USÂ jubilant at the move
In his nightly address to the nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it a âhistoric decision, from which historic responsibility will begin.â
Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraineâs UNÂ ambassador, recalled that on the night of Russiaâs invasion, âI said at the Security Council meeting that there is no purgatory for war criminals, they go straight to hell. Today, I would like to say that those of them who will remain alive after the military defeat of Russia will have to make a stop in The Hague on their way to hell.â
In Washington, President Joe Biden called the ICCâs decision âjustified,â telling reporters as he left the White House for his Delaware home that Putin âclearly committed war crimes.â While the US does not recognize the court either, Biden said it âmakes a very strong pointâ to call out the Russian leaderâs actions in ordering the invasion.
While Ukraine is also not a member of the global court, it has granted it jurisdiction over its territory and ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has visited four times since opening an investigation a year ago reported AP. Besides Russia and Ukraine, the United States and China are not members of the 123-member ICC.
On Thursday, a U.N.-backed inquiry cited Russian attacks against civilians in Ukraine, including systematic torture and killing in occupied regions, among potential issues that amount to war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity.
The sweeping investigation also found crimes committed against Ukrainians on Russian territory, including deported Ukrainian children who were prevented from reuniting with their families, a âfiltrationâ system aimed at singling out Ukrainians for detention, and torture and inhumane detention conditions.
On Friday, the ICC put the face of Putin on the child abduction allegations.
(with AP inputs)
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Published March 18th, 2023 at 12:57 IST