On Wednesday, the Kremlin dismissed as “absurd” the International Criminal Court arrest warrants issued for former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Army Chief Valery Gerasimov.
The Hague-based court had announced on Tuesday that it issued warrants for the Russian military leaders in connection with missile strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and civilian sites, which it considers potential “war crimes.”
Despite Russia not being a member of the ICC, the court’s jurisdiction could be invoked if Shoigu and Gerasimov were to enter the territories of the over 120 countries that are parties to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC in 2002.
“We do not accept the jurisdiction of this court, as we are not a party to the relevant statute, and thus these warrants have no legal standing for us,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated to reporters.
He further criticized the warrants as similar to previous ones issued against President Vladimir Putin and the children’s ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova last year, which Moscow also dismissed.
Sergei Shoigu was recently removed from his position as defense minister during a significant restructuring of Russia’s military leadership, transitioning to the role of Security Council secretary.
Valery Gerasimov continues to hold the position of Chief of Russia’s General Staff, overseeing operational command in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
