During a press conference, Matthew Miller, the spokesman for the United States Department of State, expressed his support for the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the former Minister of Defense of Russia Sergei Shoigu and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Valeri Gerasimov. The warrants were issued due to their alleged responsibility in possible war crimes committed during the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Miller emphasized that atrocities had been committed by Russian forces in the illegal invasion of Ukraine and that accountability was necessary. He mentioned that the US supports various international investigations into Russian atrocities in Ukraine, including those conducted by the ICC.
While Miller did not provide details about private conversations between the ICC and Washington, it is known that Shoigu and Gerasimov could be held responsible for “international crimes” committed between October 2022 and March 2023. These crimes include attacks against civilian targets and acts considered inhuman within the context of war.
Shoigu and Gerasimov join other Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin and Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova, on whom arrest warrants have been issued by the ICC for alleged war crimes related to the forced deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied areas. However, despite these arrest warrants being issued, they have not been detained or handed over to court.
In addition to discussing political developments related to