Justice Initiative Welcomes ICC Arrest Warrant for Putin
NEW YORK—Following the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, the international community should do everything in its power to execute it, the Open Society Justice Initiative said today. The arrest warrant alleges that the Russian leader was involved in the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia. An arrest warrant on similar allegations was also issued for Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, the Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation.
“The ICC’s arrest warrant against Putin is a heartening sign that even the most powerful war criminals can be held accountable,” said James A. Goldston, executive director of the Justice Initiative. “His arrest will now depend on the efforts of the international community—which should also continue its cooperation to hold the President and senior Russian officials responsible for the most egregious crime of all, that of the illegal invasion of Ukraine.”
The Justice Initiative continues to endorse efforts to establish a special tribunal to prosecute the crime of aggression against Ukraine. In May 2022, it published a model indictment against Putin and six other senior Russian officials to demonstrate that it is feasible to build a solid case against them for the initiation, planning, preparation, and execution of acts of aggression against Ukraine starting on February 24, 2022.
Related Work
Immunities and a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine
This briefing paper provides a non-exhaustive overview of the application of immunities to prosecutions for the crime of aggression, particularly to the Russian head of state, head of government, and minister of foreign affairs, before a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.
Model Indictment for the Crime of Aggression Committed against Ukraine
This model indictment prepared by the Justice Initiative demonstrates that building a solid case against Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior leaders for the crime of aggression is feasible. In addition to Putin, it names six Russian officials involved in the initiation, planning, preparation, and execution of acts of aggression against Ukraine starting on February 24, 2022.
Q&A: How Putin Could Be Put on Trial for the Crime of Aggression
James A. Goldston, executive director of the Justice Initiative, explains how Russia’s President Vladimir Putin could be prosecuted for the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine.
