International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Russian leaders

[2] As of June 2024, the ICC has also issued arrest warrants for Viktor Sokolov, Sergey Kobylash, Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, all of whom are officers in the Russian military accused of directing attacks at civilian objects and the crime against humanity of "inhumane acts" under the Rome Statute.

[12] In August 2022, Gyunduz Mamedov, Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine in 2019–2022, said that the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia (more than 300,000 according to the Russian Federation) is the most promising way to prove genocide.

[20] Later, the Russian state-owned RIA News published the article titled "What Russia should do with Ukraine", accusing the entire Ukrainian nation of being Nazis who must wiped out and in some cases re-educated.

[citation needed] Khan stated that these deportations were done with the intention to permanently remove the children from their own country, were a violation of the Geneva Convention and amounted to war crimes.

[41] In December 2023, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he would invite Vladimir Putin to the BRICS and G20 summits in Brazil.

[53] Lvova-Belova told Russian state media RIA Novosti: "It's great that the international community has appreciated the work to help the children of our country, that we take them out, that we create good conditions for them, that we surround them with loving, caring people.

"[53] Calling the court "a pathetic international organization," Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, warned: "Gentlemen, everyone walks under God and missiles.

"[56] South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor criticized the ICC for not having what she called an "evenhanded approach" to all leaders responsible for violations of international law.

"[61] In May 2023, South Africa announced that they would be giving diplomatic immunity to Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials so that they could attend the 15th BRICS Summit despite the ICC arrest warrant.

"[62] In July 2023, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that Putin would not attend the summit "by mutual agreement" and would instead send Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

[63] In January 2024, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor criticized the alleged double standards of the court's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, who was able to issue an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin but failed to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israeli war crimes in Gaza.

[11] ICC prosecutor Karim Khan stated: "Those that feel that you can commit a crime in the daytime, and sleep well at night, should perhaps look at history", pointing out that no one thought Slobodan Milošević would end up in The Hague.

[68] Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reiterated this in September 2023 after initially suggesting Putin may be permitted to attend the 2024 G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.

[70] The New York Times stated that "the likelihood of a trial while Mr. Putin remains in power [appeared] slim" due to Russia's refusal to surrender their own officials and the court not trying defendants in absentia.

"[72] According to Utrecht University professor Iva Vukusic, Putin "is not going to be able to travel pretty much anywhere else beyond the countries that are either clearly allies or at least somewhat aligned (with) Russia".

[6] In the view of Sky News analyst Sean Bell, the arrest warrant could complicate peace negotiations aimed at ending the Russo-Ukrainian War.