25/05/2026
Russia Issues Arrest Warrants Against ICC Officials
MOSCOW, Russia — A court in Russia has sentenced the Chief Prosecutor and eight judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prison terms in absentia.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan was sentenced to 15 years in prison, while the eight judges received sentences ranging from 3.5 to 15 years. Following this ruling, all nine officials were formally added to Russia’s wanted list.
According to analysts, this move by Russia is a direct retaliation. In 2023, the ICC issued a global arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin over allegations of war crimes related to the crisis in Ukraine.
This ruling by Russia is regarded as purely symbolic. Since Russia does not recognize the authority of the ICC, the country has no direct power to arrest these officials. However, the targeted individuals may face the threat of arrest only if they travel to countries allied with Moscow.