BREAKING: Putin and Top Russian Official Wanted by International Criminal Court for Deporting Ukrainian Children
In a shocking and historic move, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian official Maria Lvova-Belova for their alleged involvement in the forced deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia. This marks the first time that Moscow officials have faced formal charges from the ICC, sparking international outrage and a fiery response from the Kremlin.
The court asserts there are "reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Putin bears individual criminal responsibility" for the alleged crimes, both for committing them directly alongside others and for his "failure to exercise control properly over civilian and military subordinates who committed the acts." Putin's arrest warrant has been met with gratitude from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who called the decision "historic" and cited evidence of the Kremlin's direct involvement in the forced deportation of children.
Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, speaking exclusively to CNN, stated that the message from Friday's warrants "must be that basic principles of humanity bind everybody." He added that "nobody should feel they can act and commit genocide or crimes against humanity or war crimes with impunity."
The Russian government doesn't deny taking Ukrainian children, and Lvova-Belova has even claimed that it's "great" that the international community appreciates her work for children. However, both Putin and the Kremlin have dismissed the ICC's arrest warrant, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tweeting that Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of the court and that the warrants are "null and void for the Russian Federation from the point of view of law."
Despite Moscow's dismissal of the warrants, Ukrainians have welcomed the news, expressing hope that the international community will take action against Putin and the Russian regime. Human Rights Watch called the ICC decision a "wakeup call to others committing abuses or covering them up."
The unfolding situation has generated a whirlwind of reactions and commentary from around the world. As the drama unfolds, all eyes will be on the ICC and how it proceeds in the face of Moscow's defiance.