US should not cooperate with ICC on Putin arrest warrant: Bolton
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The former US National Security Advisor says he believes the International Criminal Court is fundamentally illegitimate.
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Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton during his lecture at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, February 17, 2020 (Reuters)
Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton considered on Monday that the United States should not cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) on its arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I believe and have for many years the International Criminal Court is fundamentally illegitimate. It’s not something the United States should cooperate with," Bolton pointed out in an interview for Sky News.
Last week, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova, alleging potential war crimes related to the war in Ukraine. Specifically, the ICC alleges that Russia unlawfully deported children from areas of active conflict.
Russia, like the United States, is not a signatory to the Rome Statute - the treaty that established the ICC. But the court's move could restrict Putin's travel to any of the 123 countries that recognize the ICC's jurisdiction since it obliges them to arrest the Russian President and transfer him to The Hague for trial if he enters their territory.
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov Peskov had previously considered the warrant against Putin "outrageous and unacceptable," noting that Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of ICC, and accordingly, "any decisions of this kind are null and void" from the legal point of view.
Bolton said the ICC lacks a constitutional framework to restrain it, characterizing it as a "very dangerous" institution.
Ukraine, or even Russia, would have better jurisdiction for any potential trials against Putin, he noted, pointing out that the ICC arrest warrant could hinder negotiations toward a diplomatic solution for the conflict in Ukraine.
On Friday, US President Joe Biden said the ICC's case against Putin "makes a very strong point."
"I think it’s justified," Biden said, "but the question is, it’s not recognized internationally by us, either. But I think it makes a very strong point."
Read more: ICC's arrest warrant for Putin to be effective in Germany
Russia initiates proceedings against ICC prosecutor, judges
Earlier, the Russian Investigative Committee announced on Monday that it initiated proceedings against the ICC prosecutor and judges.
On Telegram, the Committee confirmed that it "has initiated a criminal case against prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Ahmad Khan, judges of the International Criminal Court Tomoko Akane, Rosario Salvatore Aitala and Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godinez."
The statement stressed that "the criminal case is knowingly unlawful, since there are no grounds for bringing them to criminal responsibility."
It noted that the heads of state "enjoy absolute immunity from the jurisdiction of foreign states," in accordance with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents.
Peskov told reporters that the ICC's decision to issue an arrest warrant against Putin was a sign of the "clear hostility" against Russia and the Russian President personally.
But he pointed out that Russia was reacting "calmly" and was continuing its work.
"We are witnessing such a number of clearly hostile displays against our country and against our president," the Russian diplomat said at a regular news briefing.
He continued, "We note them, but if we took every one to heart, nothing good would come of it. Therefore we look at this calmly, note everything attentively and continue to work."
Read more: UK Justice Minister to host meeting to boost support for ICC
