The International Criminal Court on Tuesday issued arrest warrants for Russia’s former defense minister and his military chief of staff for attacking civilian targets in Ukraine.
The court accuses former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov of war crimes and crimes against humanity consisting of inhumane acts.
The court said in a statement that the arrest warrants were issued because judges found there were reasonable grounds to believe the men were responsible for “missile strikes carried out by Russian armed forces against Russian infrastructure Ukrainian Electric” from October 10, 2022 until March 9, 2023, at least.
During this period, a large number of strikes against numerous power plants and substations were carried out by the Russian armed forces in several locations in Ukraine.
The international court
PHOTO ANATOLII STEPANOV, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
“A large number of strikes against numerous power plants and substations were carried out by the Russian armed forces in several locations in Ukraine,” underlines the international court.
There is no immediate likelihood that either suspect will be arrested. Russia is not a member of the international tribunal, does not recognize its jurisdiction and refuses to hand over the suspects.
Last year, the court also issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of personal responsibility for child abductions in Ukraine.
President Putin replaced Mr. Shoigu as defense minister in a cabinet reshuffle in May, as he began his fifth term as president. He appointed Mr. Shoigu as secretary of the Russian Security Council, the Kremlin said.