Russia Declares International Criminal Court President Wanted | READ WHY

President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Piotr Józef Hofmański who is seeking the arrest of President Vladimir Putin of Russia, has been declared wanted by the Russian government.

Hofmański was on Monday, September 25, added on Russia’s wanted list, however, no reason was given.

“Hofmanski Piotr Jozef, Polish. Wanted under an article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation,” Russian news agencies reported, citing the Interior Ministry.

Although Russia is not a member of ICC, an arrest warrant was issued in March for Putin on the w-ar crime accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children. Russian government however insisted that the arrest warrant was void.

The ICC also issued a warrant against Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s presidential commissioner for children’s rights, on similar charges.

Russia has earlier issued arrest warrants for ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan and several judges.

In September, the ICC opened a field office in Ukraine, as part of efforts to hold Russian forces accountable for Moscow’s offensive in the Western-backed country.