Prime Minister Robert Fico argues that those advocating for the arrest of the Russian president should apply the same standard to the Israeli leader.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico contends that the demand for Vladimir Putin’s arrest, in accordance with an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant, necessitates a consistent application of the same standard to Benjamin Netanyahu, whose upcoming visit to Poland is anticipated to occur without detention.
Following his recent trip to Moscow to discuss Russian natural gas imports and Ukraine’s actions to halt gas transit through its territory, Fico stated Slovakia would not enforce the ICC warrant should Putin visit. He predicted potential criticism from Slovak NGOs and media outlets.
“I assume you would immediately call for his arrest and imprisonment,” Fico remarked.
He questioned whether similar calls would arise if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also subject to “the same international arrest warrant as President Putin,” made a state visit.
The ICC issued arrest warrants for Putin and Russia’s children’s rights ombudsman, Maria Lvova-Belova, in March 2023. These warrants stem from Kyiv’s allegations that the Russian government illegally deported numerous Ukrainian children during the conflict.
Moscow maintains that its actions have been misrepresented, claiming the children were evacuated from hazardous zones and not abducted. Kyiv has since clarified that many children initially listed as kidnapped were with their families in other countries, including Germany.
In November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders. The Israeli officials face war crimes accusations in Gaza, including alleged use of starvation as a weapon.
Last year, Warsaw indicated Netanyahu’s arrest upon visiting for the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation. However, President Andrzej Duda subsequently obtained assurances from Prime Minister Donald Tusk that the government would not execute the ICC warrant under these circumstances.
The Hague-based court prosecutes individuals accused of major crimes on behalf of the 125 states that signed the Rome Statute. The US, Russia, China, and India are among the nations that do not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction.