Dmitry Medvedev Russia’s ex-president has cautioned that attempts to arrest Russian leader Vladimir Putin abroad after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant against Putin would be seen by Russia as a “declaration of war”.
Medvedev, who acted as Russian president between 2008 and 2012, has made increasingly hawkish speeches since Putin sent armies to Ukraine, constantly issuing nuclear threats. Late on Wednesday, he said Russian weapons would strike a nation if it arrested Putin.
The ICC last week declared an arrest warrant for the Russian leader, charged with expelling Ukrainian children.
Let’s imagine — it’s clear that this is a situation that will never happen — but nevertheless let’s imagine it does.
The current head of a nuclear state arrives on the territory of, say, Germany, and is arrested. What is this? A declaration of war against the Russian Federation.”
Medvedev said
Medvedev said that if this happened “all of our means, rockets and others, will fly on the Bundestag, in the Chancellor’s Office and so on.” Medvedev said the ICC’s decision will make dire relations with the West plunge further.
His comments came two days after Russia opened a criminal inquiry into ICC prosecutor Karim Khan and several other ICC judges, saying their decision was “illegal”. ICC had also issued a warrant against Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s presidential commissioner for children’s rights.
On Wednesday, the ICC’s legislative body said it regretted “threats” against the tribunal over its warrant.
The presidency of the assembly regrets these attempts to hinder international efforts to ensure accountability for acts that are prohibited under general international law.”
ICC said in a statement.
