politics

Japan, Germany to watch developments of investigation against Putin

61 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© KYODO

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

61 Comments
Login to comment

It's so interesting how the flow of history can shift!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Japan, Germany to watch developments of investigation against Putin

And then what, try to catch Putin afterward?

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

I agree with the ICC, but I wonder if this ruling will have any positive effect for the victims of Russia's war crimes or for the Russian people themselves. Only time will tell.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

lol Good luck with Russia and China on the Security Council. Even if it is expanded I think you need to look to Asia, Africa and South America for better representation.

The two leaders also agreed that Japan and Germany will work together to reform the United Nations, as they have expressed a willingness to become permanent members of the Security Council of the international organization.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Saturday that Japan will carefully monitor the developments of an investigation against Russian President Vladimir Putin after holding talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Tokyo.

Carefully monitor a gun without a trigger?

Maybe if Kishida's vision of a "world without nuclear weapons" comes to fruition but the chances for both are about equal.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

well.... 'world leaders' and other bureucrats are certainly making up for lost (Covid) time with the jet-setting.... so once they've all 'agreed to agree', on Russia, Climate, rule of law, supply chains, China, and everything else.... it'll be nice to see them clear up some of the mess we're all in.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

What investigation what developments?

Lets see:

We have Zelensky ( Ukraine) is the accuser:

The investigators and judges are:

Uncle Piotr (Poland), uncle Marc (France), uncle Bertram (Germany), uncle Péter (Hungary), uncle Rosario (Italy), aunt Joanna (UK), Aunt Kimberly (Canada), Uncle Gocha (Georgia) and cousins Chang-ho and Tomoko (South Korea and Japan)..

So 10 of the 18 available judges are from countries supporting the accuser.

Seems the "verdict" is already decided.

1 ( +9 / -8 )

Like Japan is actually going to do something? Seems to me "watching" is all it will do!

-4 ( +8 / -12 )

When Putin fly over International waters,his plane will have to be interdicted as start of World War 3,which country Putin would target,

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

As part of their watching brief, this surely is an opportunity for Prime Minister Kishida as he currently heads up the Group of Seven presidency, to take a lead and call on the United Nations to have Russia removed from its' seat on the Security Council, as the Russian President has been officially branded as a War Criminal, who is wanted to stand trial in The Hague at the ICC...... this would be least the he could do to show his firm and strong leadership surely.

Prime Minister Kishida could also arraign the United Nations and ICC to request that the activities of another two instances of mass child abduction has taken place under the stewardship of another dictator, namely President Xi's illegal movements of millions of Uighur and Tibetan children - I think the free democracies of the world are long overdue to hear of when he will be issued with an international arrest warrant also.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Martimurano

Today 07:34 am JST

Group of Seven

Remember the USA isn't part of the ICC it refuses to be a member.

Russian President has been officially branded as a War Criminal,

Unless I am correct on the judges have already made the decisions because they are actually part of the accusers, this is false.

the United Nations and ICC to request that the activities of another two instances of mass child abduction has taken place under the stewardship of another dictator, namely President Xi's

Then we'd have to also indict the governments of the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, Belgium, France, etc...

As they have all in the past including fairly recent past done similar things, the removal of natives from their lands, the removal of native children from their families (look up residential schools) the removal or children from Ireland to ship around the former colonies, the same was done in Algeria by the French, Vietnam by the Americans, etc...

But no mention of any of that.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

Let’s watch……

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The International Criminal Court's is a JOKE, any of us could add at least 5 more names to the list of world leaders some are in office and others are retired, so why Putin and NOT the others???

This selective justice is what brought us to this point.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

What a farce this all is. In reality this is all the West can do.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

“Remember the USA isn't part of the ICC it refuses to be a member.”

The ICC would have had to indict those responsible for dropping the atom bombs.

I’m expecting the famed international organization to indict Mr Xi for what the Chinese have been doing to people in Xinjiang and Tibet.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Putting gas on the fire,you might start the fire,but their no guarantee,you will be around to see it put out

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

And the 150,000 abducted Ukraine children.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

The two leaders also agreed that Japan and Germany will work together to reform the United Nations, as they have expressed a willingness to become permanent members of the Security Council of the international organization.

Zero chance of it happening. India and Brazil are next in line. Japan and Germany aren't even on the radar.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Egypt and South Africa are also leading candidates.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Like Japan is actually going to do something? Seems to me "watching" is all it will do!

@yubaru: agreed, but I think Japan wants to try to walk a fine line of saying the right thing without actually getting too involved. Which, I have to say, is perfectly understandable, given the host of domestic problems that face Japan.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The abduction of children is genocide.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

OK, a little off topic, but I count only 4 women in this picture. That has to be fixed.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

And Germany and Japan will lecture the world on how to reform the United Nations ?

I dread to think

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Fumio Kishida Japan's Prime Minister from Hiroshima wants a world without nuclear weapons? A noble aim! And we can be sure it is the aim of the leaders of all countries in the world as well.

So, if the leaders of all countries in the world succeed in banning nuclear weapons, will the world learn to live in and enjoy peace? The world today does not need armadas of American and British bombers that dropped innumerable bombs of thousands of pounds each which reduced Europe's historical most highly cultured city of Dresden to ashes in mid-February, 1945, producing whirlwind fires of thousands of degrees which sucked helpless inhabitants into hell on earth. The same bombers also destroyed much of London, Hong Kong, Berlin, Paris, Moscow, Warsaw. Tokio, Yokohama, etc.

Today we do not need these old-fashioned bombers. We have supersonic missiles to launch thousand pound explosive packages to start firey whirlpools to suck us humans into thousand degree ovens turning us into pieces of charcoal. These missiles can perform the job of terror-killing civilians much more effectively. They also save terror killing nations billions of their currency and perform a more effective job than Little Boy did to Hiroshima. Or Fat Man to Nagasaki.

Therefore, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, kindly allow me to suggest to you and, to the leaders of all countries in the world that, there is little or no use banning nuclear arms if you do not also ban all killing machines like supersonic missiles and related machines of death, weapons of horrible instant killing and destruction.

And before this dream of peace in the world can become real, we also have to band hand guns in the world. Thank you.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

West again demonstrating it's the biggest pathetic circus on earth..

0 ( +7 / -7 )

And the 150,000 abducted Ukraine children.

And how are those children doing now ?

Let me check......yes, they are still abducted.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

What a clown show and a sick joke. Highly selective - and blind - regarding the “indictments” they handout.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

   And the 150,000 abducted Ukraine children.

>    And how are those children doing now ?

Putin has used some of them to produce propaganda anti-Ukraine movies.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Putin has used some of them to produce propaganda anti-Ukraine movies.

It's surprising that our resident Vatniks here aren't even bothering to deny the charges against Putin. They know full well that it is going on. Maria Lvova was even stupid enough to admit it.

Apparently they are all fine with it because of previous American involved conflicts.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

@ClippetyClop

I don't think anyone denies that orphans are being moved out of the warzone, particularly in areas where civilians have fled and food/medical supply chains have largely collapsed.

The question is whether it's being done with the requisite genocidal intent to constitute a war crime. It seems far from obvious that this is part of some nefarious plot to rob Ukraine of future generations, particularly when most of these children come from the ethnically Russian east.

In any war, the occupying power becomes responsible for the safety and care of orphans and other wards of the state. They can’t just leave these children without guardians/education. The decision to move them to Russia is probably justified on the basis that not many people in a warzone are looking to adopt an orphan.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I don't think anyone denies that orphans are being moved out of the warzone, particularly in areas where civilians have fled and food/medical supply chains have largely collapsed. 

The question is whether it's being done with the requisite genocidal intent to constitute a war crime. It seems far from obvious that this is part of some nefarious plot to rob Ukraine of future generations, particularly when most of these children come from the ethnically Russian east.

In any war, the occupying power becomes responsible for the safety and care of orphans and other wards of the state. They can’t just leave these children without guardians/education. The decision to move them to Russia is probably justified on the basis that not many people in a warzone are looking to adopt an orphan.

Exactly. But the Glory-to-Ukraine mob arent going to let facts get in the way.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Russia might use a nuclear device against Ukraine

No, Russia did not have a cause to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine. But there is nothing holding Putin back from using nuclear weapons now, when he realizes that there is no going back, and he is trapped in a corner.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The ICC is not a very impartial panel. You already know how they are going to vote before they vote.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

there is little or no use banning nuclear arms

The problem with nuclear arms are not that they kill people, but that they destroy the earth. Take for example Chernobyl. Experts have said it will be at least 3,000 years for the area to become safe, while others believe this is too optimistic. It is thought that the reactor site will not become habitable again for at least 20,000 years. Though, the effect on Hiroshima was much, much milder. Imagine a nuclear weapon that would have the same affect as Chernobyl.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is how the United States dealt with the International Criminal Court in 2018:

"The United States threatened Monday to arrest and sanction judges and other officials of the International Criminal Court if it moves to charge any American who served in Afghanistan with war crimes.

White House National Security Advisor John Bolton called the Hague-based rights body "unaccountable" and "outright dangerous" to the United States, Israel and other allies, and said any probe of US service members would be "an utterly unfounded, unjustifiable investigation."

"If the court comes after us, Israel or other US allies, we will not sit quietly," Bolton said.

He said the US was prepared to slap financial sanctions and criminal charges on officials of the court if they proceed against any Americans.

"We will ban its judges and prosecutors from entering the United States. We will sanction their funds in the US financial system, and we will prosecute them in the US criminal system," he said.

"We will do the same for any company or state that assists an ICC investigation of Americans," he said.

Bolton made the comments in a speech in Washington to the Federalist Society, a powerful association of legal conservatives.

Bolton pointed to an ICC prosecutor's request in November 2017 to open an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by the US military and intelligence officials in Afghanistan, especially over the abuse of detainees."

https://amp.france24.com/en/20180910-usa-trump-threatens-arrest-icc-judges-american-soldiers-afghan-war-crimes

And then there's the Hague invasion Act, which "allows the President to order U.S. military action, such as an invasion of The Hague, where the ICC is located, to protect American officials and military personnel from prosecution or rescue them from custody."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Service-Members%27_Protection_Act

5 ( +9 / -4 )

@Alfie Noakes

Yep.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

And don't forget the "Kangaroo" label attached to the ICC by Pompeo. So for some people, in view of its history, The ICC, perhaps, should review itself? Then perhaps, some people may view it with a bit of integrity, Very Important word in todays context.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I don't think anyone denies that orphans are being moved out of the warzone, particularly in areas where civilians have fled and food/medical supply chains have largely collapsed. 

The question is whether it's being done with the requisite genocidal intent to constitute a war crime. It seems far from obvious that this is part of some nefarious plot to rob Ukraine of future generations, particularly when most of these children come from the ethnically Russian east.

In any war, the occupying power becomes responsible for the safety and care of orphans and other wards of the state. They can’t just leave these children without guardians/education. The decision to move them to Russia is probably justified on the basis that not many people in a warzone are looking to adopt an orphan.

Indicted War Criminal Putin could have done the right thing and handed them over to the Red Cross or UN or probably dozens of other international bodies. But no, they clearly had the intent to indoctrinate and keep them from their relatives. As clear a war crime as there has ever been.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

There are no indications all the children were orphans and the figure of 150,000 was given by Russia. That would mean many hundreds of thousands of dead parents. Many were told they were going to summer camp.

But regardless, it is an act of genocide to remove them from their own country.

The children should have been handed over to the Ukrainians.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Civilians should not be removed from their country. Any seized by Russian troops should be handed over to the Ukrainians.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Remember the USA isn't part of the ICC it refuses to be a member.

Remember that non-sequiturs have no relevance here.

Then we'd have to also indict the governments of the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, Belgium, France, etc...

As they have all in the past including fairly recent past done similar things, the removal of natives from their lands, the removal of native children from their families (look up residential schools) the removal or children from Ireland to ship around the former colonies, the same was done in Algeria by the French, Vietnam by the Americans, etc...

If you could find any of those people alive and the country where the crime was committed under the jurisdiction of the ICC, you might have a point. Otherwise, like so much you have posted, you are just clutching at straws.

Uncle Piotr (Poland), uncle Marc (France), uncle Bertram (Germany), uncle Péter (Hungary), uncle Rosario (Italy), aunt Joanna (UK), Aunt Kimberly (Canada), Uncle Gocha (Georgia) and cousins Chang-ho and Tomoko (South Korea and Japan)..

If Russia hadn't spent the past two decades thumbing its nose at international instutituions, it might have had some friends it could count on one day.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

If you could find any of those people alive and the country where the crime was committed under the jurisdiction of the ICC, you might have a point. Otherwise, like so much you have posted, you are just clutching at straws

Sorry don't know things , I have a hint in my post, not only are plenty still alive they are being protected by governments and Churches.

If Russia hadn't spent the past two decades thumbing its nose at international instutituions, it might have had some friends it could count on one day.

Again if you knew anything, the USA is in lock step with Russia and China, the USA refuses to recognise the ICC and many more, all the same ones Russia and China don't recognise.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Putin will never leave Russia, so being caught isn't on his mind (or what's left of it).

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

14 FEBRUARY 2023

RUSSIA’S SYSTEMATIC PROGRAM FOR THE RE-EDUCATION & ADOPTION of UKRAINE’S CHILDREN

A CONFLICT OBSERVATORY REPORT

https://hub.conflictobservatory.org/portal/sharing/rest/content/items/97f919ccfe524d31a241b53ca44076b8/data

*

Ukraine’s missing children

https://sundayguardianlive.com/world/ukraines-missing-children

*

"Russia claims that these children don’t have parents or guardians to look after them, or that they can’t be reached. But the AP found that officials have deported Ukrainian children to Russia or Russian-held territories without consent, lied to them that they weren’t wanted by their parents, used them for propaganda, and given them Russian families and citizenship."

https://apnews.com/article/ukrainian-children-russia-7493cb22c9086c6293c1ac7986d85ef6

*

Russia Boasts Over 150,000 Ukrainian Children Kidnapped in Massive Depopulation Operation

https://www.flyingpenguin.com/?p=44555

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@wallace

The children should have been handed over to the Ukrainians.

Under the Geneva Conventions, Russia is responsible for the civilians in the territories they control. There is no obligation to transfer children to the custody of the Ukrainian state.

That said, I think there should be some legal mechanism to reunite children with living parents or extended family, but this is difficult without cooperation from the Ukrainian government.

First, the Russian authorities need a way to verify that a person claiming to be a parent or extended family member is actually who they say they are (and not a child trafficker). Then, they need access to records explaining why these children ended up in state custody (in order to avoid returning them to unfit parents or abusive homes). It's not a quick and easy process even in peacetime.

Civilians should not be removed from their country.

Ideally, but war is rarely ideal. I suppose Russia could have kept all the children in Ukraine by building a large refugee camp along the border, but the question is whether putting kids in camps for the duration of the war is in the children's best interest. I don't think it is.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Under the Geneva Conventions, Russia is responsible for the civilians in the territories they control. There is no obligation to transfer children to the custody of the Ukrainian state.

That doesn't mean they can be removed from Ukraine, though, least of all to Russia.

That said, I think there should be some legal mechanism to reunite children with living parents or extended family, but this is difficult without cooperation from the Ukrainian government.

First, the Russian authorities need a way to verify that a person claiming to be a parent or extended family member is actually who they say they are (and not a child trafficker). Then, they need access to records explaining why these children ended up in state custody (in order to avoid returning them to unfit parents or abusive homes). It's not a quick and easy process even in peacetime.

Civilians should not be removed from their country.

Ideally, but war is rarely ideal. I suppose Russia could have kept all the children in Ukraine by building a large refugee camp along the border, but the question is whether putting kids in camps for the duration of the war is in the children's best interest. I don't think it is.

If only there were some international organization that could have helped. Or maybe dozens of neutral countries. I guess cutting off the Russian internet from the rest of the world has meant that they can't quite figure out how to get 1s and 0s out of the country.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@TaiwanIsNotChina

That doesn't mean they can be removed from Ukraine, though, least of all to Russia.

That's the starting point but article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention also contains exceptions that allow for the evacuation of protected persons (children) outside of the occupied territory for security reasons and military necessity if "for material reasons it is impossible to avoid such displacement". That's a pretty broad exception and Russia clearly thinks it applies in this case. Given the death, destruction and collapse of basic services in eastern Ukraine, it's not entirely unreasonable, is it?

We can argue that it might have been preferable to move the children somewhere else (ie western Ukraine), but that doesn't make the evacuation to Russia an unambiguous war crime.

Article 49 - Deportations, transfers, evacuations

Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the Occupying Power or to that of any other country, occupied or not, are prohibited, regardless of their motive.

Nevertheless, the Occupying Power may undertake total or partial evacuation of a given area if the security of the population or imperative military reasons so demand. Such evacuations may not involve the displacement of protected persons outside the bounds of the occupied territory except when for material reasons it is impossible to avoid such displacement. Persons thus evacuated shall be transferred back to their homes as soon as hostilities in the area in question have ceased.

https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/gciv-1949/article-49

If only there were some international organization that could have helped. Or maybe dozens of neutral countries.

Have any international organizations offered to assist Russian authorities with their investigations? What has the reaction of the Ukrainian government been to cooperating with Russia? I'm genuinely curious if this has happened.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Have any international organizations offered to assist Russian authorities with their investigations? What has the reaction of the Ukrainian government been to cooperating with Russia? I'm genuinely curious if this has happened.

You think any of the international organizations would want to be caught dead turning down helping children? You think Ukraine would want to be caught dead turning down taking back their children? You think any of the 39 countries that didn't condemn Russia's invasion want to be caught dead turning down helping children? I'm no legal expert, but seeing Ukrainian children going into Russian families when they had living relatives in Ukraine is appalling and probably violated the Geneva Conventions six ways from Sunday.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Have any international organizations offered to assist Russian authorities with their investigations? 

And furthermore this just reeks of the typical Russian line of "no-no, we can't have international organizations in Russia. It has to be us doing everything, delaying everything, and destroying evidence along the way."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

M3M3M3

@wallace

   The children should have been handed over to the Ukrainians.

> Under the Geneva Conventions, Russia is responsible for the civilians in the territories they control. There is no obligation to transfer children to the custody of the Ukrainian state.

They are not allowed to force transfer the children/civilians to Russia which is considered an act of genocide. This is why the arrest warrants have been issued.

"Russia is now believed to be operating a large-scale, systematic network of at least 40 “recreational” re-education camps for thousands of Ukrainian children. The primary purpose of most of these camps appears to consist of pro-Russian indoctrination and, in some instances, military training. "

"Article II of the Genocide Convention lists the forcible transfer of children of a group to another group as one of the acts which may amount to genocide if it is done with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. "

https://theconversation.com/are-russian-transfers-of-ukrainian-children-to-re-education-and-adoption-facilities-a-form-of-genocide-200995

That said, I think there should be some legal mechanism to reunite children with living parents or extended family, but this is difficult without cooperation from the Ukrainian government.

First, the Russian authorities need a way to verify that a person claiming to be a parent or extended family member is actually who they say they are (and not a child trafficker). Then, they need access to records explaining why these children ended up in state custody (in order to avoid returning them to unfit parents or abusive homes). It's not a quick and easy process even in peacetime.

All Ukrainian children should be given back. The Russians need to verify nothing. They are all Ukrainian citizens.

   Civilians should not be removed from their country.

> Ideally, but war is rarely ideal. I suppose Russia could have kept all the children in Ukraine by building a large refugee camp along the border, but the question is whether putting kids in camps for the duration of the war is in the children's best interest. I don't think it is.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@wallace

They are not allowed to force transfer the children/civilians to Russia which is considered an act of genocide. This is why the arrest warrants have been issued.

Article II of the Genocide Convention lists the forcible transfer of children of a group to another group as one of the acts which may amount to genocide if it is done with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. "

The Geneva Conventions do allow for the transfer of children provided certain conditions are met (see Art. 49 from my previous comment). In its arrest warrant, the ICC has not alleged any genocide or any crimes under the Genocide Convention. If you believe a genocide is occurring, I respect your opinion but I think the evidence presented so far is unconvincing (and the ICC seems to agree).

All Ukrainian children should be given back. The Russians need to verify nothing. They are all Ukrainian citizens.

Whether we like it or not, Russia is the legitimate authority in the occupied territories according to the Geneva Conventions. They are under no obligation to round up and return all children to unoccupied areas of Ukraine as long as the war continues. You're also assuming that all of the children are Ukrainian citizens (and I don't doubt that most of them are) but you need to establish and verify this before you start handing back children to foreign governments. Russian citizens and people of other nationalities also lived in eastern Ukraine prior to the start of the war. Every case needs to be carefully examined.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

They are under no obligation to round up and return all children to unoccupied areas of Ukraine as long as the war continues.

If they are in the process of rounding up children, yes they do. If they aren't rounding up children they have a responsibility for those children to be able to leave safely with their parents.

You're also assuming that all of the children are Ukrainian citizens (and I don't doubt that most of them are) but you need to establish and verify this before you start handing back children to foreign governments. Russian citizens and people of other nationalities also lived in eastern Ukraine prior to the start of the war. Every case needs to be carefully examined.

Doubtful this is a legitimate concern. They were all under Ukrainian responsibility before Russia trashed the place, so they can return to Ukrainian responsibility to be sorted out.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@TaiwanIsNotChina

If they are in the process of rounding up children, yes they do. If they aren't rounding up children they have a responsibility for those children to be able to leave safely with their parents.

I don't understand what you mean. We're mainly talking about children who were in state care homes when the war broke out (with some exceptions such as the stranded summer camp children). If a child with living parents was put into state care because they were physically or sexually abused or neglected or abandoned, it's not as simple as handing them over to the first person who can prove that they are a biological parent.

Doubtful this is a legitimate concern. They were all under Ukrainian responsibility before Russia trashed the place, so they can return to Ukrainian responsibility to be sorted out.

Well, the Geneva Conventions require all civilians be returned to their homes at the end of the conflict. But if we want to reunite some of these children before then, it's going to require some additional effort and cooperation.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

M3M3M3

The ICC has issued it warrant against Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of the population (children) and the unlawful transfer of the population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation .

https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-ukraine-icc-judges-issue-arrest-warrants-against-vladimir-vladimirovich-putin-and

It is Putin's intent to destroy Ukraine's culture. He said so.

International law dictates what types of crimes constitute an act of genocide. These acts are exhaustively listed in the Genocide Convention, adopted in 1948. The legal definition of genocide has not changed in 75 years and is accepted by and applicable to all states worldwide.

Article II of the Genocide Convention lists the forcible transfer of children of a group to another group as one of the acts which may amount to genocide if it is done with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

To date, separate investigations into the transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia are being carried out by:

   the UN Human Rights Council’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, whose report will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council on March 20

   Amnesty International

   Yale’s Humanitarian Research lab, in collaboration with the US State Department

   the Ukraine-based Regional Centre for Human Rights, in cooperation with the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@wallace

It is Putin's intent to destroy Ukraine's culture. He said so.

I must have missed this. If you have a direct quote at hand, I'd be very interested to read it.

International law dictates what types of crimes constitute an act of genocide. These acts are exhaustively listed in the Genocide Convention, adopted in 1948. The legal definition of genocide has not changed in 75 years and is accepted by and applicable to all states worldwide.

The biggest problem with invoking the Genocide Convention is the difficulty of proving intent. Putin doesn't appear to be targeting Ukrainians for simply being part of the Ukrainian national/ethnic group. He is targeting a subset of Ukrainians who are opposing Russia's actions in Ukraine. He's not targeting Ukrainians who support him. Ultimately, he's seeking the destruction of a political faction rather than a national or ethnic group as such.

To illustrate the distinction, Hitler had genocidal intent because he sought the destruction of the Jews as Jews regardless of any other salient characteristic such as whether they voted for him or not.

The ICC has issued it warrant against Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of the population (children) and the unlawful transfer of the population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation .

For a war crime, not genocide.

Unlawful deportation of children without genocidal intent = War Crime, Art. 49 Fourth Geneva Convention

Unlawful deportation of children with genocidal intent = Crime against humanity, Genocide Convention.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

He is targeting a subset of Ukrainians who are opposing Russia's actions in Ukraine. He's not targeting Ukrainians who support him. Ultimately, he's seeking the destruction of a political faction rather than a national or ethnic group as such.

What percentage of the 44 million population of Ukraine does he want to "destroy"? 70%? 80%?

*Unlawful deportation of children without genocidal intent = War Crime, Art. 49 Fourth Geneva Convention*

I'm sure that distinction will matter a whole lot: at the rate the ICC goes through cases, Putin will be locked up for the rest of his life.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites