Russia Threatens to Blow Up ICC with Missiles

Russia Threatens to Blow Up ICC with Missiles

by.

Hendrikus Franz Josef, M.Si\

(International Relations Observer, CEO The Hendrikus Center,

https://www.youtube.com/@thehendrikuscenter2794)

On March 15th, 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) received a chilling threat from the Russian government. In a letter addressed to the court's president, Chile Eboe-Osuji, Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, warned that the country was prepared to use missiles to destroy the ICC's headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands.

The threat was prompted by the ICC's decision to investigate alleged war crimes committed by Russian troops during the country's ongoing military campaign in Ukraine. The ICC's Office of the Prosecutor announced on March 14th that it had "reasonable basis to believe that members of the Russian military and other security forces have committed war crimes in the context of the armed conflict in Ukraine."

Russia has long maintained that its involvement in Ukraine is limited to providing support to separatist rebels in the country's eastern regions. The Russian government has denied any direct involvement in the conflict and has accused the ICC of bias against Russia.

In his letter, Lavrov accused the ICC of being "an instrument of Western imperialism" and claimed that the court's decision to investigate Russian war crimes in Ukraine was politically motivated. He also warned that any attempt by the ICC to arrest Russian officials or soldiers would be met with a "harsh response" from the Russian government.

The threat of missile strikes against the ICC's headquarters is a serious escalation in Russia's ongoing confrontation with the international community over its actions in Ukraine. It also highlights the growing tension between Russia and the West, as well as Russia's increasingly confrontational approach to foreign policy.

The international community has condemned Russia's threat against the ICC. In a statement, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, called on Russia to "refrain from any action that would threaten the ICC's independence and its ability to carry out its mandate." The United States has also condemned Russia's threat, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken stating that the US "stands with the ICC and its efforts to hold accountable those responsible for atrocities and human rights abuses."

The ICC has stated that it takes the threat seriously but will continue to carry out its mandate to investigate and prosecute war crimes, regardless of the consequences. The ICC's headquarters in The Hague are heavily fortified and are protected by Dutch security forces.

In conclusion, Russia's threat to use missiles to destroy the ICC's headquarters is a dangerous escalation in the ongoing conflict between Russia and the West over Ukraine. It highlights the growing tension between Russia and the international community and underscores the need for a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine. The ICC must be allowed to carry out its mandate to investigate war crimes and hold those responsible accountable, without fear of retaliation from any state or actor.