AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The International Criminal Court on Friday issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of being responsible for war crimes committed in Ukraine.
Moscow has repeatedly denied accusations that its forces committed atrocities during its year-long invasion of its neighbour.
The International Criminal Court, in its first notice against Ukraine, called for the arrest of Putin on suspicion of illegal deportation of children and illegal transfer of people from the territory of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.
The Kremlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Earlier this week, Reuters reported that the court was expected to issue arrest warrants.
Separately, the court issued an arrest warrant for Maria Lvova Belova, Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, on the same charges.
The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, opened an investigation into possible war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Ukraine a year ago. During four trips to Ukraine, he highlighted that he was looking into alleged crimes against children and the targeting of civilian infrastructure.
(Reporting by Bart Meagher). Editing by Gareth Jones and Frank Jack Daniel
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