Japan files against Russia in global court for alleged war crimes in Ukraine

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Japan has lodged a formal complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Russia for "war crimes" perpetrated in Ukraine, the country's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

A ministry statement said that “the situation in Ukraine” was referred by Tokyo to the ICC in The Hague, on Wednesday.

“The military actions by Russia in Ukraine this time are an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force and constitute an act that shakes the foundations of the international order,” according to the ministry.

“They are a clear violation of international law and totally unacceptable. Japan strongly condemns these actions,” it added.

Japan said the case to the ICC was made after taking into account a March 2 UN General Assembly resolution, March 4 G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting statement, and the “ever growing concern over war crimes.”

The ICC is a permanent criminal judicial body that prosecutes and punishes people who commit the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole in accordance with international law.

Ukraine has already filed a case of genocide against Russia in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the top UN court. Moscow chose not to attend the first hearing, which was held on Monday.

At least 516 civilians have been killed and 908 others injured in Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's war on Feb. 24, according to UN figures.

Over 2.1 million other Ukrainians have fled to neighboring countries, recent data from the UN refugee agency showed.