An arrest warrant has been issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over war crimes

The warrant according to international media was issued today Friday.

The ICC said Putin is responsible for war crimes, including the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia committed in Ukraine at least from 24 February 2022 – when Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

“Moscow has denied allegations of war crimes during the invasion. The ICC has charged Mr Putin with being involved in the deportation of children, and says it has reasonable grounds to believe he committed the acts directly, as well as working with others”, according to the BBC

Putin, the court said also failed to exercise his rights to stop others who deported children

Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, is also wanted by the ICC

But a Russian foreign ministry spokesperson reportedly told the media moments after the publication that the arrest warrants are meaningless.

Maria Zakharova “the decisions of the International Criminal Court has no meaning for our country, including from a legal point of view”.

Zakharova said that despite the warrants, the “ICC has no powers to arrest suspects, and can only exercise jurisdiction within countries who are signed up to its agreement”

“Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and bears no obligations under it.”

The move has been welcomed by Russian opposition leaders