The Russian news agency TASS announced on Saturday, May 5, that Russia has filed a criminal complaint against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and placed him on a wanted list.
Ukraine condemned this development as proof of Moscow’s “desperation.” Zelenskiy was on a wanted list, but the Russian Interior Ministry database did not provide any other information, according to TASS.
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, might also be arrested in accordance with an International Criminal Court warrant, according to a statement from Ukraine’s foreign ministry.
“We would like to remind you that, unlike the worthless Russian announcements, an International Criminal Court warrant for the arrest of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on suspicion of war crimes is quite real and subject to implementation in 123 countries,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
It said the Russian announcement was “evidence of the desperation of the Russian state machine and propaganda, which can think of no other way to attract attention.”
Since the War with Ukraine began in February 2022, Russia has issued arrest warrants for several politicians from Ukraine and other European countries.
In February, members of the previous Latvian parliament, the culture minister of Lithuania, and Estonia’s prime minister, Kaja Kallas, were placed on a wanted list by Russian authorities for demolishing Soviet-era monuments.
Additionally, Russia issued an arrest warrant for the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court who produced Putin’s war crimes warrant the previous year.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli