The International Criminal Court said on Tuesday it had issued arrest warrants for former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Russian General Staff chief General Valery Gerasimov for ordering direct attacks on infrastructure and civilians in Ukraine.
“We welcome the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for former Russian Defense Minister S. Shoigu and Chief of the Russian Armed Forces V. Gerasimov as part of seeking justice and holding Russia accountable for crimes committed in Ukraine,” the ministry said. 10 External Affairs Ministry website.
The International Criminal Court prosecuted Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov. There is an arrest warrant
As the ICC said in a press release, the judges found that “there are genuine reasons to believe that both suspects were responsible for the missile attacks targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure between October 10, 2022 and March 9, 2023.”
The court accused Shoigu and Gerasimov of war crimes and crimes against humanity for “inhumane acts,” the AP reported.
The ICC does not have its own police and must rely on the services of member states to arrest persons sought on warrants.
Since February 2022, the ICC has issued eight arrest warrants related to Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, including those related to Shoigu and Gerasimov. Among those wanted under the order is Vladimir Putin, who is accused of war crimes related to the illegal deportation of children from the occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia.
As part of the changes in the Russian administration, Shoigu stepped down as defense minister in May and was appointed by Putin as chairman of the Security Council.