Arrest Warrant against Vladimir Putin

Why in news?

International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against Russian president Vladimir Putin.

ICC investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community.
The four types of gravest crimes are

ICC was established in 1998 under the “Rome Statute”.
Headquarters - The Hague, Netherlands
123 countries are members of ICC, including Britain, Japan, Afghanistan, and Germany.
India, USA, China, Russia and Ukraine are not the member of ICC.
Jurisdiction of ICC is limited to offences occurring after it came into effect on July 1, 2002.

Unlawful deportation of population
Unlawful transfer of population from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.
Failure to exercise control properly over civilian & military subordinates under his effective authority, committing or allowing the commission of such acts.
Individual criminal responsibility for the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry Report on Ukraine outlined the body of evidence against Russian authorities which include –
- Wide range of violations of international human rights law and International humanitarian law in many regions of Ukraine and the Russian Federation.
- Willful killings, attacks on civilians, unlawful confinement, torture, rape, and forced transfers and deportations of children.

This is the first time that the ICC has issued an arrest warrant against one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council

If Putin travels to a state party to the ICC, then that country must arrest him according to its obligations under international law.
Ukraine is not a State Party to the Rome Statute, but it has twice exercised its options to accept ICC’s jurisdiction over alleged crimes under the Rome Statute
If the acceptance of a state that is not a party to the statute is required, the state may accept the jurisdiction of the court for a crime concerned, by making a declaration to the Registrar and cooperating without any delay or exception.

Quick Facts

Features	ICC	ICJ
Subject Matter	Trial criminal offenses i.e. genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes of aggression	Settle the legal dispute i.e. sovereignty, boundary disputes, maritime disputes, trade, natural resource
Members	Individuals either ratified member of ICC or accept the jurisdiction of ICC	Only states either member of United Nation or ICJ or both.
Jurisdiction	Criminal prosecution of individuals	Contentious Jurisdiction Advisory opinion
Authorized Statute	Follow Rome Statute	Follow ICJ Statute
Composition	Composed of 18 judges elected to nine year terms and not re-elected for further terms	Composed of 15 judges elected to nine year terms and may be re-elected for up to two further terms
Appeal	Appeal is instituted by appeal chamber	No appeal provision for ICJ
Independence	Independent organization	United Nation Judiciary organ

References