"If there is any semblance of truth" in Moscow's argument that the transfer of children from Ukraine to Russia since the beginning of the war was intended for their protection, then those children must now "be repatriated, not holding a foreign passport".
This is the appeal launched by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Karim Khan at the London conference between the justice ministers of the approximately 40 countries committed to supporting the investigations of the ICC into the crimes attributed to the Russians.
Khan specified that the arrest warrant just issued against Vladimir Putin will not expire.
Khan then defended as "apolitical" the investigation by the ICC which - under the current leadership of Polish and British judicial leaders - led the Court in recent days to issue the arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin and against a high Moscow official: measures destined for now to remain on paper, especially since Moscow - like Washington, Beijing, New Delhi and other important players on the global scene - does not recognize the jurisdiction of this body;
but which in his words nonetheless represent an attempt to "relaunch" international justice (almost impotent in other scenarios), to be pursued now "with energy" and "in compliance" with the humanitarian principles of law.
Moreover, the mandate vis-à-vis President Putin is not subject to "prescription", the prosecutor pointed out in a parallel interview granted to BBC Radio 4 before speaking at the conference.
In addition to being an act, he added later, which must "lead us to sadness, not triumphalism or any congratulations": given that - as he noted - it concerns for the first time the leader of a country "permanent member of the Council of UN Security".
ANSA Agency
Moscow opens criminal investigation against ICC prosecutor - Mondo
For issuing an arrest warrant against Putin.
Medvedev, "One can imagine a hypersonic missile against the Hague court" (ANSA)