ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Two Top Russian Military Officials
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Sergei Shoigu, former Russian Defence Minister, and Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff, over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.
The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber II, composed of Judges Rosario Salvatore Aitala, Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godínez, and Haykel Ben Mahfoudh, found reasonable grounds to believe Shoigu and Gerasimov directed attacks on civilian infrastructure from October 2022 to March 2023. They are accused of war crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute, including targeting civilian objects and causing excessive harm to civilians, and crimes against humanity under Article 7.
The warrants cite evidence suggesting the suspects ordered or failed to prevent missile strikes on Ukraine’s power grid, resulting in widespread civilian suffering. The ICC emphasized the protection of civilians as a core principle of international humanitarian law.
While the warrants remain confidential to protect witnesses and ongoing investigations, the ICC announced their existence to help prevent further crimes.
