US sanctions court that seeks to arrest Putin, prompts backlash
In 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Putin and another Russian official, Maria Lvova-Belova, for "unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation."
The United States imposed severe financial sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on October 9, 2023, following the issuance of an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023. These sanctions prohibit transactions with the court after a six-month grace period, with any companies doing business with the court afterward potentially facing U.S. government punishment.
The foreign ministers of several countries, including Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and the U.K., issued a joint statement on October 9 expressing strong disagreement with the U.S. sanctions and reaffirming their unwavering support for the ICC's independence, impartiality, and integrity. They emphasized their appreciation for the court's work in preparing for such measures and their commitment to enabling the court to continue fulfilling its mandate under the Rome Statute.
However, they acknowledged that if implemented, these sanctions would significantly impact the court's work, its dedicated staff, and their families. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for unlawful transfer of population from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation in 2023. In 2024, the court also issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The ICC, established in 2002 and based in The Hague, Netherlands, investigates genocide, war crimes, and other offenses.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
