Putin’s position would not give him ‘immunity’ from prosecution – ICC

Vladimir Putin isn’t immune from warfare crimes prosecution if the proof factors in direction of him, in response to the Worldwide Legal Court docket’s (ICC) chief prosecutor.

Karim A. A. Khan QC, who’s at present investigating offences on the bottom in Ukraine, instructed Euronews that the Russian president’s place wouldn’t enable him to flee with impunity.

“Neither is superior orders a defence, neither is the official place of a person as a common or as a president or as a primary minister grounds for immunity,” the prosecutor stated.

“There is no immunity for worldwide crimes, and one of many Nuremberg rules, as you may know, is that there is not any statute of limitations for warfare crimes or crimes in opposition to humanity.”

Russia is accused of committing warfare crimes all through Ukraine, with rape, homicide and torture all getting used in opposition to the civilian inhabitants.

It comes as missile strikes launched on Monday by Moscow killed at least 19 folks and wounded 105 in Ukraine.

Khan stated these type of assaults are unacceptable if discovered to be true.

“One factor is evident: you can’t intentionally, deliberately goal civilian objects, colleges and hospitals, locations of residence of civilians until they’re getting used to realize a definite army benefit,” he stated on Wednesday.

“Even then, there’s rule of proportionality. And that is one thing, you understand, relevant.

“After all, you possibly can extrapolate from that when it comes to quite a lot of completely different targets, whether or not they’re bridges or power areas. However spreading terror isn’t allowed. After which one is to take a look at issues as a part of an general sample, versus only a one off cases.”

The ICC prosecutor additionally stated worldwide legislation is extra related than ever, given the present tensions between Russia and the West.

“We’re in a really essential second, the minute leaders speak about utilizing violence, utilizing bombs, utilizing the bullet. It is a matter to pause and assume, the place are we going? However the minute we speak about tactical nuclear weapons, it isn’t simply the twilight zone. It is the eve of a nightmare. And we have to take it extraordinarily significantly,” Khan stated.

“I believe the legislation has a task to play. It will not remedy all of the world’s issues, however we have to make it possible for it’s seen to be related in these most crucial moments that your viewers reside by, that we’re all residing by it. This isn’t a Hollywood film. This isn’t one thing that’s some drama. That is one thing that’s up shut and private to too many.”

Khan and his joint investigative group are at present wanting into warfare crimes in Ukraine with six EU nations below the umbrella of Eurojust, the bloc’s judicial co-operation company.