Russian President Vladimir Putin abducted Ukrainian children and is now a wanted man.
That from the International Criminal Court which has issued an arrest warrant for him in a move welcomed by Ukraine and the West but blasted by Russia.
Every president yearns to leave a lasting legacy, and President Vladimir Putin has made history -- unprecedentedly.
This, after the International Criminal Court in the Hague issued an arrest warrant for him, saying he "bears individual criminal responsibility" over the so-called "humanitarian mission" of sending over 16,000 Ukrainian children to Russia.
"It is forbidden by international law for occupied powers to transfer civilians from the territory they live in to other territories," insists Piotr Hofmanski, President of the International Criminal Court in the Hague.
Another warrant targets Russia's Children's Rights Commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova.
Ukraine's President lauded the move. Volodymyr Zelensky says the warrant would hold Putin accountable because his actions amounted to "state evil."
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and U.K. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab echoed that sentiment.
U.S. President Joe Biden called the decision justified, insisting Russia did commit war crimes.
But Russia adamantly denies the allegations.
A Kremlin spokesman called the warrant "outrageous and unacceptable" and insisted all decisions of the court were null and void.
This comes ahead of a planned visit to Moscow by President Xi Jinping next week.
China has called for peace talks and forged close ties with Russia, raising concerns that it may send weapons to Russia.
Putin is the third serving president to have been issued an arrest warrant, after former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir.
The International Criminal Court was established in 2002 to investigate genocide and crimes against humanity.
But Russia, Ukraine, China and the United States are not among its 123 members.
While the warrant will exacerbate Russia's heavily sanctioned predicament, this expert breaks down the reality.
"We have to be very realistic that we're not going to see Putin in the Hague anytime soon.
And of course there'll be a lot of cynicism as to whether we'll ever see him there.
Of course, we won't be looking at a trial in absentia at the ICC," commented Toby Cadman, an international law specialist.
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