New Delhi: The International Criminal Court (ICC) has reportedly issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant on Friday against Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of being responsible for the war crime of illegal deportation of children from Ukraine”, reported Reuters.
The ICC arrest warrants “have no meaning for our country, including from a legal point of view,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on her Telegram channel, Reuters also reported.
It says the crimes were committed in Ukraine at least from February 24, 2022 – when Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Moscow has denied allegations of war crimes during the invasion.
The ICC has charged Putin with being involved in the deportation of children, and says it has reasonable grounds to believe he committed the acts directly, as well as working with others.
The court also said the Russian leader failed to exercise his rights to stop others who deported children, BBC reported.
Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, is also wanted by the ICC.
The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the arrest warrants are meaningless.
“The decisions of the International Criminal Court have no meaning for our country, including from a legal point of view,” Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram, BBC reported.
That is because despite the warrants, the ICC has no powers to arrest suspects, and can only exercise jurisdiction within countries who are signed up to the agreement that set up the court.
Russia is not a signatory to that agreement – so it is unlikely either will be extradited, BBC reported.
With inputs from IANS
Ms Kalinga