UPDATE - International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Russian military chief, ex-defense minister

UPDATES WITH COMMENTS FROM RUSSIA, ANOTHER DECK ADDED

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday issued arrest warrants for former Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu and General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov.

The ICC said in a statement posted on its website that the decision was made after an investigation into alleged international crimes committed in Ukraine between at least Oct.10 2022, and at least March 9, 2023.

Shoygu and Gerasimov are accused of ordering attacks on civilian infrastructure that resulted in excessive incidental harm, as well as committing crimes against humanity of inhumane acts, according to the statement.

"The two warrants of arrest were issued following applications filed by the Prosecution. Pre-Trial Chamber II considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the two suspects bear responsibility for missile strikes carried out by the Russian armed forces against the Ukrainian electric infrastructure from at least 10 October 2022 until at least 9 March 2023," it said.

According to the court statement, the warrants' contents are classified to protect witnesses and the investigations.

"However, mindful that conduct similar to that addressed in the warrants of arrest, which amounts to violations of international humanitarian law, appears to be ongoing, the Chamber considered that public awareness of the warrants may contribute to the prevention of the further commission of crimes" it said.

Meanwhile, the Russian Security Council press service said the ICC decision is "null and void" as the court lacks jurisdiction over the country and that it is part of the "hybrid war of the West" against Moscow.

"The decision of the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court against the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Sergey Shoygu, is null and void. This is an idle talk since the jurisdiction of the ICC does not apply to Russia, and (the decision) was made as part of the hybrid war of the West against our country," the press service said in a statement.

Russia signed the Rome Statute, which was drafted with its participation, on Sept. 13, 2000, but did not ratify it. On Nov. 16, 2016, President Vladimir Putin signed an order stating that Russia would not become a member of the ICC.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, "The ICC has not lived up to the expectations and has failed to become a truly independent body of international justice."