ARAB AND WORLD
Wed 22 Mar 2023 7:48 pm - Jerusalem Time
The International Criminal Court rejects "threats" after issuing a warrant for Putin's arrest
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday rejected the "threats" and actions announced against its prosecutors and judges involved in issuing an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of war crimes during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Presidency of the Assembly of Member States of the Court, which constitutes its legislative body, said in a statement that it "regrets attempts to impede international efforts aimed at ensuring accountability for acts prohibited by public international law."
She indicated that there were "threats against the International Criminal Court, while it also announced measures against its prosecutors and judges."
She added that the association "reaffirms its unwavering support for the International Criminal Court."
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had vowed to target The Hague with a hypersonic missile as retaliation for the arrest warrant issued against Putin, according to Dutch media.
Moscow said on Monday it had opened a criminal investigation against the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, and several judges over the "illegal" decision aimed at arresting Putin over the conflict in Ukraine.
On Friday, the court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Commissioner for Children's Rights, Maria Lvova-Bilova, on charges of "illegal deportation" of Ukrainian children, a war crime.
"The number of these children runs into the thousands," Khan told AFP.
However, Moscow considered those accusations "invalid".
More than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the Russian invasion that began on February 24, 2022, according to Kiev, with many placed in institutions and with foster families.
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The International Criminal Court rejects "threats" after issuing a warrant for Putin's arrest