EU Issues Statement on Tajikistan's ICC Obligations During Putin’s Visit

The European Union has stated that Tajik authorities must uphold their obligations under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Dushanbe on October 10, reports Orda.kz.

The European External Action Service (EEAS) noted that, as a State Party to the Rome Statute, Tajikistan was obligated to arrest Putin under an ICC warrant, which accuses him of international crimes, including the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied Ukrainian territories.

The EU expresses its strongest support for efforts to ensure full accountability for all crimes under international law, human rights violations and abuses stemming from the Russian war of aggression as well as victims’ rights to justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition. In this regard, the EU continues to support the investigations by the Prosecutor of the ICC in Ukraine and calls for cooperation by all States, the EEAS stated.

Ahead of Putin’s visit, Human Rights Watch urged Tajikistan to either deny him entry or detain him based on the outstanding ICC arrest warrant. 

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and children’s ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova in March 2023 over allegations involving the forced deportation and illegal transfer of children.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov