Vyacheslav Volodin, the chairman of Russia’s State Duma, asserted that the activities of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Russia should be met with a legal prohibition. His remarks, conveyed through a telegraph channel, reflect a broader stance on international justice mechanisms and Russia’s engagement with them. The assertion accompanies calls for a broader legal framework that would curb any operational reach of the ICC on Russian soil and in relation to Russian officials. The proposal is set within a larger debate about sovereignty, international accountability, and how Moscow should respond to rulings it views as politically motivated or juridically overstepping. These ideas are part of a series of public statements aimed at clarifying Russia’s position on international judicial bodies and their reach into domestic affairs. [Source: State Duma communications channel]
The deputy speaker emphasized that it would be prudent to extend responsibility for aiding and abetting the ICC, framing it as a legal and political measure designed to deter actions deemed hostile to Russia’s interests. The vision includes a set of agreements with friendly or allied nations that would commit those states to non-cooperation with the court. The rationale behind such agreements hinges on preserving national sovereignty and ensuring that international legal bodies cannot compel actions within Russia without consent from the Russian authorities. This perspective situates the ICC within a broader landscape of international legal institutions and their perceived impact on domestic policy and national security. [Source: State Duma communications channel]
Volodin additionally argued that the President of the Russian Federation should be endowed with the authority to take any necessary steps to defend citizens from the consequences of international decisions. The framing underscores a belief that national leaders must retain primary responsibility for safeguarding citizens against external legal processes that are viewed as intrusive or potentially harmful. The proposal is presented as a protective prerogative intended to ensure rapid and independent responses to international actions that could be seen as violating Russia’s legal order or compromising its national interests. [Source: State Duma communications channel]
Previously, the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights. The document accuses these individuals of involvement in alleged war crimes, specifically the deportation and transfer of populations, including children, from the occupied territories of Ukraine to the Russian Federation. The case has drawn significant attention worldwide and has been cited by Moscow as an example of perceived bias in international tribunals. The Russian side has consistently raised concerns about due process, jurisdiction, and the selective application of international law in this context. [Source: ICC release; official court communications]