ICC issues arrest warrants for ex-Russian defence minister, military chief

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has issued arrest warrants for former Russian Defence Minister and Secretary of the Security Council, Sergei Shoigu, and Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, Caliber.Az reports citing the court's website.

"The International Criminal Court's Pre-Trial Board II has issued arrest warrants for two individuals, Sergei Kuzugetovich Shoigu and Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov in the context of the situation in Ukraine for alleged international crimes committed from at least October 10, 2022 to at least March 9, 2023," the report reads.

The ICC specified that "there are reasonable grounds to believe that the two suspects are responsible for missile strikes carried out by the Russian armed forces against Ukrainian electricity infrastructure between at least October 10, 2022, and at least March 9, 2023." During that time, the Russian army carried out "a large number of strikes against numerous power plants and substations in various locations in Ukraine," the release said. The court is convinced that the expediency of the strikes on Ukraine's energy system is insufficient and causes more harm to civilians. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia was striking energy facilities in Ukraine in response to attacks on Russian territory.

Russia does not recognise the ICC and considers its decisions legally null and void.