Russian-Ukraine War: ICC Issues Arrest-Warrants For Former-Russian Defence Minister And General Over Ukraine-War Crimes (Details)

Russian-Ukraine War: ICC Issues Arrest-Warrants For Former-Russian Defence Minister And General Over Ukraine-War Crimes (Details)

The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday issued arrest warrants for former Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and top Russian General Valery Gerasimov, accusing them of crimes committed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Shoigu, who was dismissed as defence minister last month and appointed Secretary of Russia’s powerful Security Council, faces charges alongside Gerasimov for allegedly directing attacks against civilians.

The Hague-based court stated that Shoigu and Gerasimov are suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity. ICC judges found “reasonable grounds to believe that the two suspects bear responsibility for missile strikes carried out by the Russian armed forces against Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure from at least October 10, 2022, until at least March 9, 2023.”

The ICC judges asserted that these strikes predominantly targeted civilian objects, and even when military objectives were considered, the incidental civilian harm was clearly excessive compared to the anticipated military advantage, thus constituting war crimes.

Russia, which is not an ICC member, has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is a legitimate military target and denies targeting civilians. Ukraine, although not an ICC member, has granted the court jurisdiction to prosecute crimes on its territory.

The arrest warrants for Shoigu and Gerasimov bring the total number of senior Russian officials sought by the ICC since the invasion began to eight.