Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov commented on the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, to arrest the commanders of the Black Sea Fleet and the long-range aviation of the Russian Federation.
He reminded that the decisions of this court do not have legal force for Russia, as Moscow has not ratified the Rome Statute.
“This is not the first decision, we know that closed processes are going on, which are kept secret. We treat such decisions accordingly,” said the Kremlin representative.
On March 5, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for the commander of Russia’s long-range aviation, Sergei Kobylash, and the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Viktor Sokolov. According to the court, Sokolov and Kobylash are responsible for strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC, and the Russian Ministry of Defense has repeatedly emphasized that the military does not target civilian objects.
The arrest warrants for Russian servicemen were issued by ICC judges Tomoko Akane and Rosario Aitala. In March 2023, they also issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the authorized representative for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova. More details can be found in the article on “Gazeta.ru”.
Earlier, the Kremlin explained how Putin can enter Armenia after its accession to the ICC.
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The International Criminal Court’s decision to arrest Russian military commanders has been met with skepticism and indifference by the Russian government. Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that the court’s decisions hold no legal weight in Russia, as the country has not ratified the Rome Statute. This comes as no surprise, as the Kremlin has long been critical of the ICC and its secretive processes.
The arrest warrants were issued for Sergei Kobylash, commander of Russia’s long-range aviation, and Admiral Viktor Sokolov, commander of the Black Sea Fleet. The court claims that they are responsible for targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. However, Russia vehemently denies these allegations, stating that its military strictly avoids civilian targets.
It is worth noting that these arrest warrants are not isolated incidents. ICC judges Tomoko Akane and Rosario Aitala previously issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the authorized representative for children’s rights. Such actions only serve to highlight the ICC’s questionable agenda.
The Russian government remains unfazed by the ICC’s attempts to assert jurisdiction over its military personnel. The lack of recognition and dismissal of the court’s decisions reflect Moscow’s firm stance on protecting its sovereignty. As such, the arrest warrants are unlikely to have any real impact on Russia’s operations or its relationship with the international community.
In light of these developments, the Kremlin has also addressed concerns about Putin’s future travel plans. Despite Armenia’s recent accession to the ICC, the Russian government has made it clear that it will not allow any interference with the President’s movements. This firm stance ensures that Putin’s visit to Armenia will proceed without any hindrance.
In conclusion, the International Criminal Court’s decision to arrest Russian military commanders has been met with skepticism and dismissal by the Russian government. Moscow remains steadfast in protecting its sovereignty and disregards the court’s decisions as lacking legal authority. These developments further highlight the questionable agenda of the ICC and its attempts to assert jurisdiction over Russian officials.
