Russia has taken a significant step by adding a third official to its wanted list following the International Criminal Court’s allegations of war crimes in Ukraine. The individual in question is Judge Tomoko Akane, a Japanese national who has been serving as one of the ICC judges since 2018. Russia’s interior ministry listed her as “wanted under an article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation,” but specific details regarding the alleged crime have not been disclosed.
In March, the ICC issued arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the children’s commissioner, accusing them of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine, an act classified as a war crime. In response, Russia has defended its actions, asserting that the transfers were carried out to protect orphans and children left stranded in the war-torn region.
The situation escalated further when Russia responded to the ICC’s warrant by initiating criminal cases against not only ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan but also other judges involved in the order for President Putin’s arrest. Among those on Russia’s wanted list are Judge Tomoko Akane and the Italian Rosario Salvatore Aitala, who had been added in May and June, respectively.
The ICC has expressed grave concern over the use of coercive measures against its officials. Despite these challenges, the ICC remains resolute in its commitment to carry out its mandate, ensuring accountability for the most severe crimes that affect the international community as a whole.
