ICC issues arrest warrants for Putin, Russian official

Move comes after investigation into war crimes in Ukraine

The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and a second Russian official, in connection with war crimes committed in Ukraine.

The ICC's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, said in a statement that the court had found "reasonable grounds to believe that Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, and Sergey Shoigu, Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, committed the crime of aggression against Ukraine, which is a crime under the jurisdiction of the Court."

The ICC's decision is the first time that it has issued an arrest warrant for a sitting head of state. It is also the first time that the ICC has investigated war crimes committed in Ukraine.

The ICC's investigation into war crimes in Ukraine began in March 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion. The investigation has focused on allegations of extrajudicial killings, torture, rape, and other serious crimes committed against civilians.

The ICC's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Putin is a significant development. It sends a strong message that the ICC will not tolerate war crimes, no matter who the perpetrators are.

However, it is unclear whether Putin will ever be arrested. Russia is not a member of the ICC, and it does not recognize the court's jurisdiction. This means that Russia is unlikely to cooperate with the ICC's request to arrest Putin.

Despite the challenges involved, the ICC's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Putin is an important step towards holding him accountable for the war crimes that have been committed in Ukraine.