Russia on Sunday put on wanted list the judge and prosecutor of the International Criminal Court who issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin and children’s rights ombudswoman Maria Lvova-Belova allegedly for trafficking Ukrainian children.
Russia on Sunday announced indictments in absentia for a judge and prosecutor of the International Criminal Court who issued the war crimes warrant.
A statement from the National Investigative Committee said the judge, Rosario Salvatore Aitala, and prosecutor Khan Karim Asad Ahmad are both charged with preparing to attack a representative of a foreign country enjoying international protection in order to complicate international relations.
"By now, investigations have collected enough evidence to charge in absentia prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Khan Karim Assad Ahmad and judge of the International Criminal Court Rosario Salvatore Aitala," TASS reported quoting the National Investigative Committee's statement.
TASS reported the ICC prosecutor is facing charges for criminal prosecution of a person known to be innocent, as well as preparation for an attack on a representative of a foreign state enjoying international protection in order to complicate international relations. The judge is facing charges for knowingly illegal detention and preparation for an attack on a representative of a foreign state enjoying international protection in order to complicate international relations, the publication reported.
Conviction could bring prison terms of up to 12 years. The committee also said other ICC officials are being investigated.
The ICC in March issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes because of his alleged involvement in abductions of children from Ukraine. It also issued a warrant for the arrest of Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, the Commissioner for Children's Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, on similar allegations.
The investigation found crimes committed against Ukrainians on Russian territory, including deporting Ukrainian children who were prevented from reuniting with their families, a filtration system aimed at singling out Ukrainians for detention, and torture and inhumane detention conditions.
(With PTI inputs.)
