If the International Criminal Court does not reach Russia, Russia will reach the International Criminal Court.
Author: Tolib Aliyev, analyst, especially for “Sangar”
Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, stated on April 8, 2026, during a UN Security Council meeting that the discredited International Criminal Court (ICC) has turned into an instrument of political manipulation in the hands of Western countries.
“Speaking about the role of the ICC, let me note that this pseudo-court has completely discredited itself, turning into a tool of political manipulation and pressure in the hands of several Western states,” the envoy said.
According to him, many countries no longer doubt the court’s bias. For example, the very idea of the ICC as an institution limiting state sovereignty is opposed by the United States, China, India, Israel, and Iran. Moreover, the United States is among the most staunch opponents of the ICC’s activities.
It should be recalled that after the 2008 conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia, the ICC rejected claims filed by South Ossetian citizens, even though a European Union commission placed responsibility for initiating the aggression on Georgia.
Nevertheless, the fact of Tbilisi’s aggression against Tskhinvali, as well as war crimes against civilians, was not confirmed in the ICC’s criminal cases.
On March 20, 2026, the Russian government submitted a draft law to the State Duma that would allow the deployment of troops to other countries to protect Russian citizens who have been detained or are under prosecution abroad by court decisions. The document предусматривает that, by decision of the President, the extraterritorial use of armed forces may be permitted to protect Russian citizens.
Earlier, on December 29, 2025, President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing the non-enforcement of rulings by foreign courts, including the International Criminal Court and special tribunals, on the territory of the Russian Federation.
