Warrant issued: Putin's arrest is being prepared?

The Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Nazhat Shameem Khan, said today that the court’s investigation into the Russian invasion of Ukraine cannot be halted by peace negotiations, but could be deferred by the United Nations Security Council.

“If we have an investigation, then we will follow our own regulatory framework,” Khan said.

She noted that efforts to pursue justice should go hand in hand with peace efforts.

“There must be the possibility of accountability for peace to be lasting and sustainable,” Khan said.

She added that the UN Security Council can “request the court to defer a case where it sees room for a peace agreement.”

According to her, this would only be a “temporary pause” in the investigation.

The Kremlin has repeatedly stated that it does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction and considers the warrant null and void.

Nazhat Shameem Khan is one of nine ICC staff members, including six judges and the court’s chief prosecutor, who were sanctioned by U.S. President Donald Trump for conducting investigations into U.S. and Israeli officials.