Putin in Crimea to mark nine years since annexation - a day after war crimes arrest warrant

The peninsula was illegally taken by Russia in 2014 and Ukraine has vowed to fight until it is returned.

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Putin visits Crimea
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Vladimir Putin has been in Crimea to mark the ninth anniversary of the Black Sea peninsula's annexation from Ukraine.

The Russian president made the 1,132-mile plane journey from Moscow to Sevastopol - Crimea's largest city - a day after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him.

The court says he is responsible for the abduction of hundreds of Ukrainian children since Russia's full invasion of the country began in February last year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhayev visit the Children's Art and Aesthetic center, part of Chersonesos Taurica historical and archeological park in Sevastopol, Crimea, Saturday, March 18, 2023. Putin has traveled to Crimea to mark the ninth anniversary of the Black Sea peninsula's annexation from Ukraine. (Sputnik, Kremlin Press Service Pool Photo via AP)
Image: Sevastopol's governor with Vladimir Putin. Pic: AP

In Crimea, he was greeted by Mikhail Razvozhayev - the Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol - before visiting an art school and a children's centre.

Mr Putin's remarks were not broadcast by state media but as recently as Friday, he was talking about the importance of holding on to Crimea.

"Obviously, security issues take top priority for Crimea and Sevastopol now," he said.

"We will do everything needed to fend off any threats."

Most of the world considers Russia's annexation of Crimea to be illegal, and Ukraine has said it will fight to get the region back.

Read more:
Vladimir Putin's arrest warrant is 'first shot' in potentially substantial indictment against him
Putin's 'child snatcher' and other fugitives wanted by International Criminal Court

Meanwhile, Mr Putin has not commented publicly on the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant, but his spokesman called it "null and void" on Friday.

Russia does not recognise the jurisdiction of the court, which is based in The Hague.

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It also does not extradite its citizens to face the court's justice, meaning Mr Putin is unlikely to ever face trial there.

Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported on Saturday evening that the country's foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova had said that any peace settlement with Ukraine should require the "abolition of all illegal sanctions and lawsuits against the Russian Federation in international courts".

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In other news, Ukrainian authorities reported a number of Russian attacks between Friday night and Saturday morning.

The Ukrainian air force command said on Telegram that 11 out of 16 drones were shot down during attacks targeting the capital Kyiv, and the western Lviv province, among other areas.

Russia is still concentrating most of its offensive power in Ukraine's industrial east - centres such as Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Marinka and Shakhtarsk.

Putin 'unruffled and unapologetic', despite war crimes charge

John Sparks - Africa correspondent
John Sparks

International correspondent

@sparkomat

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is now liable to arrest in 123 countries - but he knows that no one is going to detain him in Crimea.

The peninsula was seized from Ukraine in 2014 and Russia's long-time leader has returned to mark the 9th anniversary of its annexation.

It is a good place to see – and be seen.

Putin looked unruffled and unapologetic, one day after he had been indicted by the International Criminal Court for the forced deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.

And this was almost certainly the point.

"This is good," he said, as he was led around a refurbished arts complex by local dignitaries.

"What is it in total, an arts school?" he asked.

"An art school and a children's camp. We've agreed that we'll select children who are very talented," replied a local priest.

He did not seem concerned that the president, and Russia's children's commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, are wanted for the effective kidnapping of over 100 children.

The allegation should be easy to prove.

In a meeting that was broadcast nationally, Putin and Lvova-Belova casually discuss how she had adopted a 15-year-old Ukrainian boy.

According to the former UN special rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights, Ben Emmerson, the indictments are a sign of intent on behalf of the criminal court's judges.

"I think for many international criminal lawyers, it's a refreshing and encouraging sign that Prosecutor (Karim Ahmad) Khan is making a decision here to prosecute first, a case that he knows he can prove with very little difficulty. But as I say, more charges are bound to follow."

Mr Emmerson says the ICC has sent a powerful message to all those involved in war crimes in Ukraine, whether committed in the past or planned in the future.

"The court and the prosecutor have decided that the indictment should be made immediately public, no doubt sending a very clear signal that those responsible for crimes in this war will be held accountable in front of an international criminal court."