RT.com
27 May 2023, 04:14 GMT+10
Russia is investigating an International Criminal Court prosecutor and several judges over ICC arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin
Images of prominent International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Khan Karim Asad Ahmad and of ICC judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala have appeared on 'Wanted' notice boards in Moscow, several news outlets reported on Thursday. Each is part of a group of ICC officials charged by the Russian Investigative Committee over their role in issuing an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin.
Several Russian Telegram channels posted photos of public notice boards located in north-western Moscow bearing key details about the two ICC officials.
The images of the men appear among the photos of other suspects wanted by Russian law enforcement. An accompanying text says both officials are "absconding the investigative agencies." Khan and Aitala are charged with "attacking a person or an entity enjoying international protection" and with "instituting criminal proceedings against a knowingly innocent person," as well as with "illegally opening a criminal case," the text added, citing the relevant articles of Russia's Criminal Code.
Citizens reading the public notices are encouraged to relay to police any information that may lead to the officials' detention. It is unclear if it was Russian law enforcement that posted the images of the ICC prosecutor and judge on the 'Wanted' notice boards in Moscow, although the posts resemble other official notices issued by police. Russian officials have not commented on the development.
Khan, a British ICC prosecutor, was also put on the Russian Interior Ministry's 'Wanted' list, several Russian media outlets reported last Friday, citing the ministry's database. The ICC member states responded to the development by saying they were "deeply concerned" at Moscow's move. The court itself said in a separate statement that it considers Russia's actions "unwarranted and unjustified coercive measures."
Last week, Russia's Investigative Committee charged Khan and Aitala as well as two other ICC judges -Tomoko Akane and Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godinez- in absentia, over the issuance of an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin. Khan and Aitala are the only two charged by Moscow so far.
According to the Investigative Committee, in late February Ahmad issued a request for an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and for Maria Lvova-Belova, the presidential commissioner for children's rights, which was then approved by the three judges.
The Russian president and the commissioner were accused of being responsible for "unlawful deportation" of children from "occupied areas" of Ukraine to Russia. The tribunal itself is not recognized by Russia.
The Investigative Committee maintained that there were "no grounds for criminal liability" and added that, in any case, heads of state are immune to that kind of prosecution, under a UN convention. The Kremlin also dismissed the warrant against Putin as null and void. Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in May that it would be "unthinkable" for any nation to try and enforce the ICC ruling against a nuclear power.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Irish Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Irish Sun.
More InformationBATON ROUGE, Louisiana: In a Louisiana election where more than 43,000 people cast their ballots, a candidate for parish sheriff ...
LIVINGSTON, Kentucky: This week, railroad operator CSX said a train derailment involving 16 cars, two of which spilled molten sulfur ...
Fifty-seven journalists have been killed as of Saturday as a result of Israel's war on Gaza, which has extended to ...
TEL AVIV, Israel - Following Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's statement on Emily Hand's release, Israel's foreign minister says he summoned the ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The White House says U.S. authorities have foiled a plot to kill a Sikh separatist in the U.S., ...
BANGKOK, Thailand: In response to heightened Chinese activity in the South China Sea, the United States and the Philippines have ...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Ireland's national weather service, Met Eireann, has warned that 'snow is possible' for Ireland in the upcoming days, ...
AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands: As European carmakers aim to produce more cost-effective batteries and more affordable electric vehicles (EV), Stellantis and ...
We restored real speeds (as best we could!) from the memoirs. Which of the emperors rode in a sleigh the ...
On August 1, 2023, Russia started issuing electronic visas. And, by November 20, 2023, more than 120,000 foreigners have obtained ...
Many generals were groundlessly accused of "cowardice" and "panic-mongering" and immediately sent for execution. After Stalin's death, all of them ...
These "Dominicans" weren't exactly the kind you'd see holding church services. What they did is gather on St. Petersburg's famous ...