Putin, Milosevic were all powerful individuals, but they found themselves in courtrooms

They were all powerful individuals, but they found themselves in courtrooms. This message was issued by the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court ICC in The Hague, Karim Khan, regarding the warrant for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes in Ukraine, which was issued by that court on March 17th.

Among the powerful individuals who were found in custody on March 17th despite the contrary expectation of many, Khan mentioned the former president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia FRY Slobodan Milosevic.

At the time of the accusation, both Milosevic and Putin were heads of state. In both cases, the accusation occurred while the armed conflict was still ongoing, according to Marko Milanovic, professor of international law at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. He adds that Putin is the ruler of a nuclear superpower and Milosevic is the sovereign of a small country who has the obligation to arrest and extradite Putin.

Serbia, as a signatory to the Rome Statute, i.e. The treaty that established the ICC in the Hague has promised to arrest and extradite persons sought by this court if they are found on its territory.

Although it condemned the invasion of Ukraine through several resolutions in the United Nations UN, Serbia is one of the few countries that refuse to join the policy of the European Union EU and impose sanctions on Russia.

On March 18th, the coalition partner of the ruling SNS, the Movement of Socialists, Aleksandar Vulin, called for the withholding of support for the ICC and the Rome Statute.

What is the difference between the accusations against Putin and Milosevic?

An indictment against Putin was not brought against him, but a warrant was issued for his arrest. A formal indictment is only confirmed before the ICC if the defendant is arrested or surrendered, according to international law professor Marko Milanovic.

He points out the difference between the accusations against Putin and the former president of Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic.

Milosevic was accused of crimes of a very large scale in three separate conflicts in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina BiH and Croatia, while Putin is accused of a much more specific crime. Milanovic adds that this does not mean that the prosecutor will not have other charges against him in the future.

The court suspects Putin of being involved in the war crime of deportation of the population children and their transfer from the occupied Ukrainian territory to Russia, according to Radio Slobodna Evropa.