Background Guide for the ICC MVMUN’25
On March 17, 2023, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “the Court”)
issued warrants of arrest for two individuals in the context of the situation in Ukraine: Mr Vladimir
Vladimirovich Putin and Ms Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova.
Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, born on 7 October 1952, President of the Russian Federation, is
allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of
unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation
(under articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute). The crimes were allegedly
committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022. There are reasonable
grounds to believe that Mr Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for the aforementioned
crimes, (i) for having committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through others (article
25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute), and (ii) for his failure to exercise control properly over civilian and
military subordinates who committed the acts, or allowed for their commission, and who were under
his effective authority and control, pursuant to superior responsibility (article 28(b) of the Rome
Statute).
The crimes were allegedly committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February
2022. There are reasonable grounds to believe that Ms Lvova-Belova bears individual criminal
responsibility for the aforementioned crimes, for having committed the acts directly, jointly with
others and/or through others (article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute).
Pre-Trial Chamber II considered, based on the Prosecution’s applications of 22 February 2023, that
there are reasonable grounds to believe that each suspect bears responsibility for the war crime of
unlawful deportation of population and that of unlawful transfer of population from occupied areas of
Ukraine to the Russian Federation, in prejudice of Ukrainian children.
The Chamber considered that the warrants are secret in order to protect victims and witnesses and
also to safeguard the investigation. Nevertheless, mindful that the conduct addressed in the present
situation is allegedly ongoing, and that the public awareness of the warrants may contribute to the
prevention of the further commission of crimes, the Chamber considered that it is in the interests of
justice to authorise the Registry to publicly disclose the existence of the warrants, the name of the
suspects, the crimes for which the warrants are issued, and the modes of liability as established by
the Chamber.
The abovementioned warrants of arrests were issued pursuant to the applications submitted by the
Prosecution on 22 February 2023.
Freeze date: March 13, 2023
---
About Defendant Born on 7 October 1952, President of the Russian Federation.
Accused Last Name: Vladimirovich Putin Accused First Name: Vladimir
Charges: Allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children)
and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian
Federation (under articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute). The crimes were
allegedly committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022. There are
reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for the
aforementioned crimes, (i) for having committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through
others (article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute), and (ii) for his failure to exercise control properly over
civilian and military subordinates who committed the acts, or allowed for their commission, and who
were under his effective authority and control, pursuant to superior responsibility (article 28(b) of the
Rome Statute).