Russian officials have been banned from traveling abroad for fear of arrest warrants being issued. A bill introduced in the State Duma to ban deputies and senators from traveling abroad without prior approval of the trip by the authorities is linked to fears that the International Criminal Court in The Hague will issue new arrest warrants.
The explanatory note to the bill says: "As a result of the adoption of the proposed amendments to the bill even before the departure of a deputy of the State Duma or a senator of the Russian Federation will be able to prevent his visit to the country where there is a risk of his arrest or the implementation of other sanctions against him by the authorities of unfriendly countries".
The document also says that the bill should take into account the fact that the ICC has initiated criminal proceedings against some deputies and senators. At the same time, as the publication "Agency" notes, so far the court in The Hague has not issued any arrest warrants for Russian lawmakers.
The publication claims that the adoption of the law indicates either that the Russian authorities have already learned about the new warrants with the help of intelligence services, or that they are preparing in advance to increase the warrants due to the war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin commented on the ICC's issuance of arrest warrants for former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
"We do not recognize the jurisdiction of this court, we do not recognize these warrants. We consider them quite absurd, just like the previous two warrants that concerned the head of state and our children's ombudsman," presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
We shall remind you that on June 25, the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov.
