Ex-Russian President Medvedev likens ICC arrest warrant for Putin to toilet paper

Dmitry Medvedev, former President of Russia and current Deputy Chair of Security Council of Russia, has likened International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant for Russian President Vlimir Putin to toilet paper. Taking to Twitter, Medvedev said, " International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against Vlimir Putin. No need to explain WHERE this paper should be used," with toilet paper emoji.

A spokesperson of Russian Foreign ministry asserted that ICC arrest warrant against Russian Putin has "no meaning" for country, "including from a legal point of view" as nation h withdrawn from ICC treaty in 2016. Rejecting warrant on Friday, Maria Zakharova said, "Russia is not a member of Rome Statute of International Criminal Court and bears no obligations under it. Russia does not cooperate with this body, and possible (pretences) for arrest coming from International Court of Justice will be legally null and void for us."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia doesn’t recognise ICC and considers its decisions “legally void”. He called court’s move “outrageous and unacceptable”. Peskov refused to comment when asked if Putin would avoid making trips to countries where he could be arrested on ICC’s warrant.

Ukraine & US jubilant at move

In his nightly dress to nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it a “historic decision, from which historic responsibility will begin.”

Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s UN ambassor, recalled that on night of Russia’s invasion, “I said at Security Council meeting that re is no purgatory for war criminals, y go straight to hell. Today, I would like to say that those of m who will remain alive after military defeat of Russia will have to make a stop in Hague on ir way to hell.”

In Washington, President Joe Biden called ICC’s decision “justified,” telling reporters as he left White House for his Delaware home that Putin “clearly committed war crimes.” While US does not recognize court eir, Biden said it “makes a very strong point” to call out Russian leer’s actions in ordering invasion.

While Ukraine is also not a member of global court, it has granted it jurisdiction over its territory and ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has visited four times since opening an investigation a year ago reported AP. Besides Russia and Ukraine, United States and China are not members of 123-member ICC.

On Thursday, a U.N.-backed inquiry cited Russian attacks against civilians in Ukraine, including systematic torture and killing in occupied regions, among potential issues that amount to war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity.

 sweeping investigation also found crimes committed against Ukrainians on Russian territory, including deported Ukrainian children who were prevented from reuniting with ir families, a “filtration” system aimed at singling out Ukrainians for detention, and torture and inhumane detention conditions.

On Friday, ICC put face of Putin on child abduction allegations.

(with AP inputs)