On March 17, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague issued an arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin. How world leaders reacted to this – in RTVI material.
Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
China’s Foreign Ministry has urged the International Criminal Court to take an “objective and impartial” stance and avoid double standards. Wenbin also said that the ICC must respect the immunity of heads of state in accordance with international law, transmits AFP.
US and EU reaction
US President Joe BidenAdam Schultz/White House
Previously, the ICC’s decision was backed by US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, among others.
Biden appointed decision of the International Criminal Court justified, but noted that the United States does not recognize its jurisdiction. When asked if the Russian president should be tried for “war crimes”, Biden said he believed Putin had “clearly” committed them.
Scholz, commenting on the ICC ruling, said “no one is above the law” and called The Hague tribunal “an appropriate institution to investigate war crimes”.
The head of the German Ministry of Justice, Marco Buschmann, in turn said that Putin would be arrested if he arrived in the country. EU High Representative Josep Borrell said the EU “welcomes and encourages” efforts to bring perpetrators of war crimes to justice.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic
Vučić questioned whether the decision to issue an arrest warrant for Putin was wise and calculated. According to him, this shows a reluctance to talk about peace and will have “bad political consequences”.
“I’m not sure that’s a wise enough decision or a calculated one. But maybe they know their job better than I do. son words of Serbian President Blic.
Vučić also noted that Putin has been compared to former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, but “the leader of a small country cannot be compared to a great power”.
According to Vucic, the decision to issue an arrest warrant against Putin is intended to complicate the communication of the Russian president.
“Great, now you’ve charged him with war crimes. Who are you going to talk to now? Or maybe you don’t want to talk? Or are you waiting for (Russia’s) defeat? Vucic said.
The ICC’s decision “shows that there is a great reluctance to talk about peace and a truce”, added the Serbian president. This “will have bad political consequences”, which in turn will lead to “bad consequences in people’s lives”, Vučić concluded.
Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun-sen
Bernd von Jutrczenka / DPA / Picture Alliance / TASS
A warrant for Putin’s arrest could trigger a nuclear war and complicate efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine, the Cambodian prime minister has said.
He called on the parties concerned to find a solution to end the conflict and not pose a threat of exacerbating tensions.
“An ICC arrest warrant for Putin will complicate efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, especially ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow, during which he is expected to serve as mediator for peace,” said Hun Sen.
He added that the ICC does not have the right to arrest suspects without the cooperation of the respective governments. “Will Putin agree to be arrested without confrontation? If the ICC tries to arrest him, are the Russian authorities ready to let that happen easily? added the prime minister.
Press secretary to South African President Vincent Magwenya
South Africa has “taken note” of the ICC’s decision to arrest the Russian president and “is mindful of its legal obligations”, Magvenya said.
In August, South Africa will host a summit of BRICS countries, including Russia. The Kremlin has not yet confirmed Vladimir Putin’s participation in the summit, but, as writing Reuters, his visit is expected.
“As a government, we are aware of our legal obligations. However, ahead of the summit, we will continue to engage with various relevant stakeholders,” Magwenya said.
Putin’s press officer Dmitry Peskov
The decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin did not affect his work and the work of the administration of the head of state, where the decision was taken in calm. This was announced to journalists on Monday by the Russian President’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov, whose remarks son TASS agency.
“We are taking this calmly, carefully recording everything and continuing to work. The president continues to work, the most important thing,” Peskov said, responding to a question about Putin’s personal attitude to the ICC decision.
Artem Geodakyan/TASS
Medvedev threatened the court in The Hague with a missile strike at his new telegram post. “Alas, gentlemen, everyone walks under God and rockets. It is quite possible to imagine the targeted use of a hypersonic North Sea “Onyx” from a Russian ship at the courthouse in The Hague. I can’t beat it, alas. And the Court is just a miserable international organization, not the people of a NATO country. Therefore, the war will not start. They will be afraid. And no one will regret. So, Citizens of the Judge, watch the sky carefully…” Medvedev wrote.
He called the ICC “crappy” and “useless”, noting that the court during its existence held responsible “three dozen unknown people”.
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