The Budapest official vetoed the release of a joint statement by European Union countries on the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is reported by Bloomberg, citing its sources.
According to the agency, Hungary’s decision compelled the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, to issue a statement on his own behalf, noting the ICC decision. It should be noted that Hungary may express its position regarding the issuance of an arrest warrant against the Russian leader at the next EU summit, which will be held in Brussels on March 23-24.
The authors of the material pointed out that the draft statement following the summit uses similar wording to the statement by the head of the EU’s foreign service. At the same time, sources say, the leaders of some European countries may demand to use tougher rhetoric against Russian authorities over the International Criminal Court ruling.
Earlier, EU Justice and Rule of Law Commissioner Didier Reynders said that in 2022 the European Union paid the International Criminal Court €10 million for its activities in Ukraine. He added that the EU has decided to continue providing the necessary support to the ICC until 2025 to the tune of three million euros. Reynders also promised that the European Union would discuss “the reform of the Rome Statute”.
The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has opened a criminal investigation against ICC prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan. Moreover, his defendants were the judges of this organization – Tomoko Akane, Rosario Salvatore Aitala and Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godinez. The reason for the initiation of criminal proceedings against members of the International Criminal Court was the decision to arrest the Russian head of state, Vladimir Putin, and the presidential commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova- Belova.
Bloomberg: Budapest Blocks EU Request to Issue ICC Arrest Warrant for Putin
