The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov on charges of international crimes, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
The ICC announced Tuesday that Shoigu and Gerasimov are accused of directing attacks on civilian objects and causing excessive harm to civilians during the conflict in Ukraine. The court does not conduct trials in absentia, and it remains uncertain whether Russia would comply with any extradition requests.
In response to the ICC’s decision, Russia’s Security Council dismissed the warrants as “null and void,” claiming the court lacks jurisdiction over Russia and accusing Western powers of waging a hybrid war against Moscow.
Ukrainian officials welcomed the ICC’s move, with President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasizing that the warrants underscore that “no military rank or cabinet door can shield Russian criminals from accountability.” Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets echoed this sentiment, affirming that justice for war crimes is drawing nearer.
The arrest warrants mark the ICC’s latest action against Russian leaders, following previous warrants issued for President Vladimir Putin and official Maria Lvova-Belova over allegations related to Ukrainian children.
The ICC, based in The Hague and established under the Rome Statute, operates independently but faces challenges due to non-participation by key nations including the United States, Russia, and Ukraine.
Separately on Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights found Russia guilty of violating numerous human rights conventions in Crimea since its annexation in 2014, ordering Moscow to address systemic abuses including arbitrary detentions and restrictions on education and movement.
