Can Putin be charged with war crimes?

[vlyons]

This whole Ukraine invasion seems to rest solely on the shoulders of Putin. Can he be charged with war crimes? I understand that arresting him would be near impossible. That's not what I'm asking. What I want to know is: can charges of war crimes be brought because he initiated an unprovoked invasion of a peaceful country?

[BootinUp]

1. I know I read a story that a suit was already sent to the ICC.

So someone believes that is the case.

[tritsofme]

4. That seems unlikely to me, neither Russia nor Ukraine are parties to the Rome Statute

that established the ICC, it’s hard to see how they could claim jurisdiction.

[Karadeniz]

6. I, too, read they were collecting evidence.

[Ocelot II]

2. A claim has been filed against Russia at the Hague.

Ukraine has filed a lawsuit against Russia at the International Court of Justice following Moscow's invasion of the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday the country submitted its application with the UN's highest court at The Hague. https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-27-22/h_3225e5985f7b5cd3099f63df694c085b

[tritsofme]

5. The ICJ is not a forum for prosecuting war crimes.

The ICJ adjudicates disputes between states by applying international law, however they only issue advisory opinions.

Only the Security Council can enforce their decisions…and well, we know how that would end.

It’s definitely a step Ukraine should take, but unfortunately won’t lead to direct action.

[Ocelot II]

8. It's a start, though.

Nobody was prosecuted for war crimes until after WWII was over. There was no tribunal in place, so one had to be created:

The Allies eventually established the laws and procedures for the Nuremberg trials with the London Charter of the International Military Tribunal (IMT), issued on August 8, 1945. Among other things, the charter defined three categories of crimes: crimes against peace (including planning, preparing, starting or waging wars of aggression or wars in violation of international agreements), war crimes (including violations of customs or laws of war, including improper treatment of civilians and prisoners of war) and crimes against humanity (including murder, enslavement or deportation of civilians or persecution on political, religious or racial grounds). It was determined that civilian officials as well as military officers could be accused of war crimes.

https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/nuremberg-trials

The Nuremberg trials could serve as a template for war crimes prosecution of Putin and others, but if it happens at all it won't happen soon.

[mucifer]

3. he has nukes and he's nuts. So I'm not sure that's the best thing to do. But, he clearly is

committing war crimes.

[Brainfodder]

7. I figure discount Hitler is KOS with no punishment whatsoever at this point?

[Hoyt]

9. Same question was asked above George War bush. But pressure will

increase if tens of thousands are killed.

[Demsrule86]

10. Yes, and not only for the invasion of Ukraine but for poisoning British citizens as well...his list

of crimes is long...lock him up for the rest of his miserable life.

[TomSlick]

11. It is clear that Putin could - and should - be prosecuted for waging a war of aggression

under the precedent of the Nuremberg Tribunal after WWII and the United Nations Charter.

If when all this is over, if Putin could be taken into custody, then he should be tried. The best option would be for Putin to be tried in a Russian court but that seems very unlikely. If Putin is found in another country, he should be apprehended and made to stand trial there.