International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrant For Putin Over Ukraine 'War Crimes': Report

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of war crimes committed in Ukraine, according to the report.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (File Photo) ( Image Source :Getty )

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant on Friday against Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of being responsible for war crimes committed in Ukraine, news agency Reuters reported. 

Moscow has constantly refuted charges that its forces committed crimes against its neighbour during the one-year invasion.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin on suspicion of unlawful deportation of minors and the unlawful movement of people from Ukrainian territory to the Russian Federation, the report said. 

Putin "is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from seized territories of Ukraine to the Russian Federation," the court said in a statement.

The ICC's pre-trial chamber found "reasonable grounds to believe that each suspect bears responsibility for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population and that of unlawful transfer of population from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation, in prejudice of Ukrainian children," according to the ICC.

Reuters reported earlier this week that the court was set to issue warrants, the first in its inquiry into the Ukrainian conflict.

Additionally, the court issued arrest warrants for Russia's Commissioner for Children's Rights, Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, on the same charges, the report added. 

'Just An Initial Step': Ukraine's Reaction To ICC's Action

Ukraine's presidency said Friday that the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin was only the first step in restoring justice in the aftermath of Russia's invasion, news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. 

#UPDATE Ukraine's presidency said Friday the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin was just an initial step in restoring justice over Russia's invasion. pic.twitter.com/EoKPTC8iQ0

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 17, 2023

Kremlin Terms The ICC's Warrant 'Void': 

After the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of being responsible for war crimes committed in Ukraine, the Kremlin responded by calling the warrant 'void,' AFP reported. 

(With Inputs From Agencies)