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Comment by Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna on the second anniversary of ICC's arrest warrant for Putin and Lvova-Belova

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

17.03.2025

Comment by Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna on the second anniversary of ICC's arrest warrant for Putin and Lvova-Belova.

"Today marks two years since the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for the crime of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia and their illegal adoption. By now, Putin and his accomplices have deported tens of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia and Russia-occupied areas, robbing them of their childhood and systematically destroying their Ukrainian identity.

The arrest warrant by the ICC shows that the international community is condemning Russia's aggression and the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the course of the aggression, and demands that the perpetrators are brought to justice. There can be no peace as long as Ukrainian children remain in the hands of the aggressor. We must continue pressuring Russia on the international arena to stop its war machine and allow every single Ukrainian child to return home to their families. If these perpetrators escape without an appropriate punishment, it would only encourage future aggressors. I commend the International Criminal Court for its work and activities, including for issuing a warrant for Putin's arrest. It is a specific step, an example to follow, and countries should comply with it and cooperate with the court."

The International Criminal Court was established in The Hague on 17 July 1998 with the aim of processing the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. Estonia is a state party and active supporter of the ICC since 2002.

On 17 March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued warrants for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for perpetrating the deportation of Ukrainian children and their illegal adoption. The warrant obligates all state parties to the ICC to detain Putin or Lvova-Belova and extradite them to the ICC if they enter their territory.