In a recent development in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the International Criminal Court issued warrants of arrest for Russian President Vladimir Putin and official Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova for war crimes.
A pre-trial chamber of the ICC issued the warrants, holding the two allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation and transfer of population, including children, from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.
The crimes were allegedly committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from February 24, 2022, according to the prosecution's complaint.
Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova is the Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation; she is allegedly the person directly responsible for the war crime of unlawfully deporting and transporting children.
The chamber considered keeping the warrants secret in order to protect victims and witnesses and also to safeguard the investigation. However, since the alleged child trafficking is ongoing and that public awareness of the warrants may contribute to the prevention of further crimes, the chamber authorised the court registry to make the warrants public.
The warrants of arrests were issued pursuant to the applications submitted by the prosecution on February 22, 2023.