Will Putin be prosecuted for war crimes in Ukraine? Who will arrest Putin? Learn
Will there be a case against Putin?
The Western countries have collectively condemned Russia for starting the Ukraine war, and the US and Western countries have tried to shove Moscow into the sanctions trap, with the intention of teaching Russia a lesson, but Russia remains unfazed. Ukraine continues to be attacked and Ukraine has so far killed thousands of people in the war and created an unprecedented refugee crisis. So far, more than two million people from Ukraine have left Ukraine and moved to neighboring countries.
Demand to declare Russia a war criminal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with ABC News that, “All the people who came to our land, all the people who ordered (the attack), all the soldiers who are shooting, all the war criminals.” Huh.” The US has also emphasized on several occasions that war crimes were committed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But experts say, despite a growing list of charges, a full conviction in a situation like this may prove impossible. If the track record of the ICC is seen, it may take many years. In the last two decades, the ICC has convicted only 10 persons.
What is a war crime?
ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan announced on 2 March, following requests from 40 member states, that he would launch an investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine. The ICC gives clear definitions of the crime of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression. And this definition of the IACC is also incorporated into a treaty called the ‘Rome Statute’, which forms the foundation of the ICC. According to its directives, those involved in all kinds of acts targeting civilian populations, violating the Geneva Conventions, and targeting and killing specific groups of people, are eligible to be prosecuted for war crimes. War crimes include murder, mutilation, cruelty, hostage, rape and sexual slavery, and all these acts are in violation of the laws of war. In addition, international humanitarian law prohibits the use of weapons that can cause indiscriminate pain, such as the use of chemical or biological weapons.
How does ICC work?
The International Criminal Court, or ICC, is based in The Hague, Netherlands and operates independently and can prosecute individuals for four primary offences. These include war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and crimes of aggression. At the same time, almost every country in the world, a total of 123 countries in the world, comes under the jurisdiction of the IC, which have signed the ‘Rome Statute’. But there are some notable exceptions as well. For example, about 31 countries, including the US, Russia and Ukraine, have signed the treaty but have not joined it. Whereas, after the ICC’s 2016 decision on Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, when Russia refused to accept the court’s decision, then Russia got out of it.
People are sued, not the country
The biggest thing is that in the ICC, individuals are prosecuted, not individuals. Anyone who comes under the jurisdiction of the ICC can be prosecuted and the ICC usually tries to prosecute the top officials and leaders who are most responsible for starting the war. In the case of the war in Ukraine, investigators will look into both past and present allegations. This is likely to include war crimes that Putin ordered during Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
Warrant may be issued against Putin
If enough evidence is found against Russian President Vladimir Putin in the ICC, then an arrest warrant can be issued against him, but the problem is that without Putin’s presence, he cannot be prosecuted and now Russia Not only a member of the ICC, then Putin is unlikely to attend the court. That is, either Vladimir Putin is arrested by the Russian army and handed over to the ICC, or after leaving Russia, the government of that country will have to arrest Putin and hand him over to the ICC. Along with this, either the government of a country or the United Nations Security Council can direct the ICC to investigate matters. Since Russia is a permanent member of the UNSC, it has veto power, so if the UN is ordered to prosecute the Russian President, then Russia can use its veto to block the UNSC order.
What actions of Russia would be called a war crime?
Ukraine’s President Zelensky has accused Russian fighter jets of firing indiscriminately at civilian targets across the country. The US has also called the attack on the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant a “war crime”. Earlier this month, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia was using cluster bombs in Ukraine. Human rights organizations have long condemned the use of cluster bombs because of the risk of harm to civilians. Simultaneously, Russia has also been accused of attacking a maternity hospital in Mariupol. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted after the incident, “People, children are under the rubble.” And Zelensky also called it a ‘war crime’. But, it is highly unlikely, that ‘war crimes’ against Putin ‘ and then give them any punishment.
