International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Putin over alleged Ukraine war crimes
NBCDec 23, 2022
The Facts
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday for the alleged war crime of unlawfully deporting children from Ukraine.
The ICC’s move obligates its 123 member states to arrest Putin and transfer him to The Hague for trial if he sets foot on their territory. Neither Russia nor Ukraine are ICC members, although Kyiv has granted it jurisdiction to prosecute crimes committed on its territory.
The Spin
Pro-Russia narrative
The ICC is another illegitimate international entity aligned against Moscow, but it's entirely powerless. While NATO-backed nations and NGOs may issue their aggressive statements, they have no jurisdiction in Russia. This is another attempt to encourage anti-Russian sentiment around the world by spreading manufactured allegations.
Anti-Russia narrative
The international community continues to fight against Putin and the brutal war crimes he has committed during his illegal invasion of Ukraine. Despite criticisms that this decision won't bear any weight, it marks a decisive stance as the ICC continues to investigate the atrocities committed in Ukraine and is the first step to holding Putin accountable.
