MBABANE:Russia has threatened to attack the International Criminal Court(ICC)in The Hague with hypersonic missiles after the court issued a warrant of arrest against President Vladimir Putin,Aljazeera reported this week.
As a result,the ICC has expressed concerns over the threats issued by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is wanted by the ICC for allegedly deporting thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia.
The presidency of the ICC’s Assembly of States Parties said it “regrets these attempts to hinder international efforts to ensure accountability for acts that are prohibited under general international law”.
The assembly also “reaffirms its unwavering support for the International Criminal Court”, the presidency said.
“The International Criminal Court embodies our collective commitment to fight impunity for the gravest international crimes. As an institution of last resort, the Court is complementary to national jurisdictions. We call on all States to respect its judicial and prosecutorial independence,” it added.
Medvedev said on Monday: “It’s quite possible to imagine a hypersonic missile being fired from the North Sea from a Russian ship at The Hague courthouse.Everyone walks under God and rockets…Look carefully to the sky…”
The ICC arrest warrant for Putin, issued on Friday,accuses the Russian leader of unlawfully deporting thousands of Ukrainian children, a war crime.
Vladimir Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin is wanted by the ICC for allegedly deporting thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia [File: Sputnik/Vladimir Astapkovich/Kremlin via Reuters]