Ukraine’s parliament has voted to join the International Criminal Court (ICC), with politicians billing the move as a means of enabling the country to “punish” suspected Russian war criminals.
Parliament voted on Wednesday to ratify the Rome Statute, which paves the way for full membership of the ICC, with 281 in favour of the measure, according to lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak, posting on Telegram.
“Ukraine has already worked effectively with the ICC to ensure comprehensive accountability for all Russian atrocities committed in the course of Russian aggression,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on X.
The ICC prosecutes grave offences like genocide and crimes against humanity and has the power to issue arrest warrants that its 124 members are obliged to execute.
Last year, the court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his children’s ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova over the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and Russian-controlled territory.
The Hague-based court issued warrants in June for former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Valery Gerasimov, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
