Fight against impunity – Issuing of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court against Mr Vladimir Putin and Ms Maria Lvova-Belova (17 March 2023)

COMMUNIQUE
ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY FOR EUROPE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS

France notes that the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants against Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights.

The Court considers that sufficient evidence exists to establish their involvement in the deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children.

The Court, which launched its investigation on 2 March at the request of some 40 States, including all the European Union Member States under the French EU presidency, acts with full independence. It considers that these acts constitute war crimes and therefore cannot go unpunished.

True to its long-standing commitment to combat impunity, France will continue to lend its support to the essential work of the international courts to ensure that those responsible for all the crimes committed in Ukraine are held accountable. It is providing its full support to the ICC and the Ukrainian courts working towards this goal.