ICC Japanese Judge who issued Arrest Warrant for Putin and others was on Russia Wanted list

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

ICC日本人裁判官をロシアが指名手配 プーチン大統領らに逮捕状

2023年7月27日 17時10分

ロシア政府が戦争犯罪の疑いでプーチン大統領などに逮捕状を出したICC＝国際刑事裁判所の日本人裁判官を指名手配したとロシアの国営通信社が伝えました。

ロシアの国営通信社は27日、ロシア内務省の指名手配リストにICCの赤根智子裁判官が掲載されたと伝えました。

具体的にどのような容疑で指名手配したのかは明らかになっていませんが、ICCはことし3月、ロシアがウクライナの占領地域から子どもたちをロシア側に移送したことをめぐり、国際法上の戦争犯罪の疑いでプーチン大統領など2人に逮捕状を出しました。

これに対しロシアの連邦捜査委員会は、3月、赤根裁判官を含む4人に対して刑事手続きを開始し、これまでに主任検察官らを本人不在のまま起訴したと発表していました。

8月、南アフリカではBRICS＝新興5か国の首脳会議が開かれ、プーチン大統領は対面での出席を見送ることを決めています。

南アフリカはICCの加盟国でプーチン大統領を拘束して引き渡す義務があることから、ロシア側の対応が注目されていました。

松野官房長官「ICCとも連携し適切に対処」

松野官房長官は午後の記者会見で「わが国としては本件をめぐってICC＝国際刑事裁判所の関係者個人に対して措置を取ることは不当であると考えており、ICCとも連携し適切に対処していく」と述べました。

Translation

A Russian state news agency reported that the Russian government had issued an arrest warrant for a Japanese judge of the ICC = International Criminal Court that had issued an arrest warrant for President Putin and others on suspicion of war crimes.

The Russian state news agency reported on the 27th that ICC Judge Tomoko Akane (赤根智子)was placed on the Russian Interior Ministry's wanted list.

It was not clear on what specific suspicions were based in issuing the warrant, but the ICC announced in March this year that Russia had transferred children from the occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia, under international law arrest warrants were issued for two people, including President Putin, on suspicion of war crimes.

In response, Russia's Federal Investigative Committee announced in March that it had begun criminal proceedings against four people, including Judge Akane, and had so far indicted the chief prosecutors in absentia.

In August, the BRICS = summit meeting of five emerging countries was held in South Africa, and President Putin decided to postpone face-to-face attendance.

South Africa was a member of the ICC and obliged to detain and hand over President Putin, so Russia's response has attracted attention.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno (松野)-"To cooperate with the ICC to handle appropriately"

At a press conference in the afternoon, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said, "Japan believes that it is unjust to take measures against individuals involved in the ICC (International Criminal Court) over this matter, and we will work with the ICC to deal with it appropriately. '

So, Russian government has issued an arrest warrant for a Japanese judge of the ICC who has issued an arrest warrant for President Putin and others on suspicion of war crimes. I agree with Japan that it is unjust for Russia to take measures against individuals involved a decision of ICC as an organization.