On 17 March 2023, a little more than a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ms. Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, the Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation.
If the ominous-sounding “arrest warrant” had anyone hoping that the autocratic leader’s days were numbered or that the war’s end was near, they are sadly mistaken. The ICC’s move is a paper tiger, at best. At worst, it could strengthen the anti-West sentiment.
According to the ICC, the Russian leader “is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.” Kyiv claims that close to 16,000 children have been taken away by Russia so far, and only a few hundred have made it back home.
The United Nations recently reported on the kidnapping and deportation of young children to Russia from occupied Ukrainian territories. The children are said to have been placed with foster families and given Russian citizenship. Moscow has publicly confirmed the program but claimed that the children were “transferred for their own protection.” The authorities maintain that the children had been orphaned, separated from their families, or their parents were missing.
But, the UN report is damning and presents a different picture. It states, “The transfers were not justified by safety or medical reasons. There seems to be no indication that it was impossible to allow the children to relocate to territory under Ukrainian Government control. It also does not appear that Russian authorities sought to establish contact with the children’s relatives or with Ukrainian authorities.”
The accusation could put President Putin in a spot of bother, especially since he has strived to portray himself as a champion of “traditional family values” and a protector of children. Russians, in general, are considered considerate and concerned about the well-being of children.
The alleged kidnapping of children may erode support for President Putin’s ongoing war, inside and outside Russia. The revelation of atrocities against children may tarnish the Russian leader’s reputation, but it is unlikely that such considerations would make the man change his course.
Sympathy for Ukraine may be stoked by reports that Russian authorities have been deliberately carrying out a systematic program to strip the young Ukrainians of their identity by forcefully re-educating them to become Russian. Those still withholding arms and other aid to Kyiv may now step up their efforts to counter Russian might.
Beyond the possibility of eroding support at home and abroad, President Putin may not care much about the ICC’s warrant. The Court does not have a police force and relies on other nations to enforce its arrest warrants. It is unlikely that Moscow will take any steps, now or even later, to hold the President accountable.
The ICC’s move may put a bummer on his travel plans, as technically, the Russian President can be arrested if he travels to any of the 123 member countries. But the probability of any country plucking up the courage to enact the arrest warrant against the leader of Russia seems distant.
The ICC’s action is a moral statement, at best, against the autocratic president’s actions that have killed thousands and displaced millions. But, the organization lacks teeth and resources. No one is rushing to carry out the Court’s bidding.
Russia, like the U.S., China, India, and Israel, is not a member of the International Criminal Court. Many of the world’s most powerful countries have refrained from joining the organization to protect their national interests and sovereignty. The ICC, being separate from the United Nations, has no means of bringing people to justice without the aid of other countries.
The ICC’s arrest warrant against President Putin is a paper tiger that may rally his allies to his defense. China, Moscow’s friend “without limits,” accused the ICC of double standards. The Chinese leader Xi Jinping paid a two-day state visit to Russia, his first international visit after stepping into his third term.
With news channels beaming horrific scenes of human suffering from various conflict-stricken locations, ICC’s singling out of President Putin is unlikely to go down well among the anti-West nations. The Russian leader may twist the Court’s actions and present them as the West’s propaganda against Russia.
Terming the ICC’s move as “outrageous,” the Kremlin has opened a criminal case against the ICC prosecutor and judges who issued the arrest warrant. The symbolic gesture makes Russia’s intent clear: the war – of weapons and words – is far from over.
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#1. Ukraine War: UK Defends Sending Uranium Ammo To Kyiv After Putin’s Warning, Says Report – WION
On Tuesday, Putin said that Moscow would be forced to react if the UK gave Kyiv military supplies, including armor-piercing ammunition containing depleted uranium.
Earlier, the British government had confirmed it would provide Ukraine with the armor-piercing rounds alongside Challenger two tanks but insisted they have a low radiation risk.
The BBC reported that a statement from the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said that depleted uranium is a standard component and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons.
#2. Zelenskyy Visits East Ukraine, Near Frontline City Of Bakhmut – AFP
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited military positions near the frontline town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, the scene of the longest and bloodiest battle since Russia’s invasion.
Video released by Zelenskyy’s office showed the Ukrainian leader meeting servicemen in a warehouse and handing out awards.
Russian and Ukrainian forces have invested heavily in the battle for Bakhmut, even though analysts say the city carries little strategic value.
Kyiv says the battle for the industrial town is key to holding back Russian forces along the eastern front.
#3. ICC Concerned By Russia’s ‘threats’ Over Putin Warrant – Al Jazeera
The ICC’s statement of concern came after former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev threatened to hit the war crimes court in The Hague with hypersonic missiles.
It also followed Russia’s top investigative body opening a criminal case against ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan and the judges who issued the warrant for Putin.
The presidency of the ICC’s Assembly of States Parties said it “regrets these attempts to hinder international efforts to ensure accountability for acts that are prohibited under general international law.”
The ICC arrest warrant for Putin accuses the Russian leader of unlawfully deporting thousands of Ukrainian children, a war crime.
#4. Armed Russian Jets Violated U.S. Airspace Over Base In Syria 25 Times In March: General – Al Arabiya
Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, combined forces air component commander for U.S. Central Command, said that the Russians violated a years-old, U.S.-Russia agreement risking escalation.
The U.S. and Russian militaries had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that set out air safety procedures in Syrian skies to avoid any accidents or encounters between the two forces’ jets.
“The Russians have over the last several months seemed to abandon that tenet of the protocols,” Grynkewich said.
#5. As Xi Ends Russia Visit, Blinken Says China’s Diplomatic Support For Moscow Is Counter To U.S. Interests – RFE/RL
Blinken testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee just as Xi Jinping left Russia, wrapping up a three-day visit during which he and Putin signed a series of “strategic cooperation” documents.
“I think their diplomatic support, their political support, and to some extent material support for Russia certainly goes against our interest in bringing this war to an end,” Blinken said.
#6. China’s Military Says U.S. Warship Illegally Entered Waters In South China Sea – Reuters
China’s military said it monitored and drove away a U.S. destroyer illegally entering waters around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.
In a statement, the military said that without the government’s approval, the guided-missile destroyer Milius illegally intruded into China’s territorial waters, undermining peace and stability in the busy waterway.
The tension between the United States and China has been growing.
The United States has been shoring up alliances in the Asia-Pacific, seeking to counter China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait as Beijing seeks to advance its territorial claims.
#7. Taiwan Accuses China Of Involvement In Honduras Diplomatic Crisis – Al Jazeera
Taiwan’s foreign minister accused China of involvement in the plan by Honduras to switch diplomatic allegiance from Taipei to Beijing.
He also suggested that the Central American country had demanded a “high price” to maintain relations with Taiwan.
Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu’s comments came a day after Honduras denied it had demanded $2.5bn in aid from Taiwan before announcing a plan to open relations with China.
When asked about Honduras’s alleged $2.5bn aid demand, Wu said, “the other side demanded a high price,” but he did not directly confirm the claim reported by the Reuters news agency.
#8. Solomons Inks Port Deal With Chinese Firm – AFP
A state-backed Chinese company has won a contract to develop a key port in the Solomon Islands, a major victory in Beijing’s quest to gain a strategic toe-hold in the South Pacific.
The Solomon Islands government announced that the China Civil Engineering Construction Corp. had been chosen to lead a $170-million project to develop the international port in the capital Honiara.
The Solomons have become the unlikely epicenter of a diplomatic tussle between China and the United States after it signed a secret security pact with Beijing in 2022.
#9. To Woo U.S. Legislators, Tiktok Brings Its Influencers – Al Jazeera
TikTok is ramping up a public relations campaign to fend off the possibility of a nationwide ban by Biden administration. It is bringing some unconventional advocates to help: online influencers.
Dozens of TikTok creators – some with millions of followers on the video-sharing app – came to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to lobby in favor of the platform, one day before legislators are slated to grill the company’s chief executive about concerns over user data falling into the hands of the Chinese government.
#10. UK Rejects Israel ‘Apartheid’ Label In New Trade And Security Pact – Middle East Eye
The UK government has agreed to oppose the use of “apartheid” to describe Israel’s treatment of Palestinians as part of a new “strategic partnership” between the two countries.
In an agreement signed in London, the UK government also pledged to confront “anti-Israel bias” in international institutions, including the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The agreement, titled “The 2030 Roadmap for UK-Israeli Bilateral Relations”, is primarily aimed at deepening “economic, security and technology ties” between the two countries and cooperating to tackle “the scourge of antisemitism” and geopolitical issues facing the region, including Iranian influence.
#11. Saudi FM Agrees With Iranian Counterpart To Hold A Bilateral Meeting ‘Soon’- Al Arabiya
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan called his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian and the two agreed to hold a bilateral meeting “soon,” the Saudi ministry said.
This followed the March 10 signing of the landmark agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, brokered by China, to re-establish diplomatic ties and reopen embassies after seven years of heightened tensions.
In an interview, Prince Faisal said that he was looking forward to meeting his Iranian counterpart soon as per the agreement.
#12. Canada Sees Record High Population Growth As Immigration Increases – AFP
Canada saw record-high population growth last year due to a surge in immigrants and temporary residents. If the trend continues, the nation will double its population in 26 years.
As of January 1, the country’s population hit 39,566,248 after adding 1,050,110 people over the previous 12 months — a sizable gain that has not been seen since the post-war baby boom of the 1950s.
In the present day, however, international migration accounted for nearly all of the growth (95.9 percent) as Ottawa sought to bring in more and more immigrants to fill a labor shortage.
Republished with permission from TIPP Insights
