The European Union has sharply criticized Tajikistan for its decision not to execute the arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), reports "Reuters", quoted by News.bg.
"The Russian president is in Tajikistan despite the arrest warrant. "As a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, Tajikistan has failed to fulfil its obligations to arrest and hand over Putin to the court," said EU External Action Service spokeswoman Anita Hipper.
Brussels stressed that such actions undermine international justice.
"The EU expresses its strong support for efforts to ensure accountability for all crimes under international law, human rights violations and abuses committed during the Russian aggression, and to guarantee the victims' right to justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition. In this regard, the EU continues to support the investigations conducted by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in Ukraine and calls on all states to cooperate," the statement said.
On 17 March 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova. They are accused of deporting Ukrainian children.
Tajikistan has been a party to the Rome Statute since 2000, meaning it has a legal obligation to cooperate with the court. Putin's presence in the country without taking action on the arrest warrant has sparked a sharp reaction in Brussels.