United States senators have grilled the pinnacle of the Pentagon for what they referred to as a failure to cooperate with an Worldwide Prison Courtroom (ICC) investigation of Russian conflict crimes in Ukraine.
Talking throughout a Senate committee listening to on Thursday, Democrat Dick Durbin mentioned he had been advised by the worldwide courtroom’s chief prosecutor that the US Protection Division was refusing to cooperate within the case, which it launched within the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
In March, the courtroom issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Durbin mentioned the courtroom’s prime prosecutor, Karim Khan, advised him that, not like the Pentagon, the US State Division and Justice Division have been cooperating with the investigation.
“Why are you reluctant to share the proof that we have now gathered in the US by the Division of Protection for individuals who are holding [Russian President] Vladimir Putin accountable for his conflict crimes?” Durbin requested Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin.
In a glancing response, Austin mentioned the Pentagon “firmly helps the purpose of holding Russia accountable for its violations in Ukraine”. However he added, “I’ll at all times prioritise the safety of US army personnel in something that we do.”
He later mentioned: “I do have considerations about reciprocity going ahead.”
The response underscores the US’s long-held wariness in the direction of the ICC. The federal government has beforehand voiced considerations that becoming a member of or supporting the courtroom may open the door to additional prosecutions of US army personnel or political leaders, or seem to legitimise ICC investigations of US personnel overseas.
The courtroom grew to become operational in 2002, 4 years after 120 nations ratified its authorized foundation, the Rome Statute.
Below the statute, the courtroom has jurisdiction to prosecute worldwide crimes — together with crimes towards humanity, conflict crimes, crimes of aggression and genocide — if they’re dedicated within the territory or by a nationwide of a celebration to the treaty, if that get together is “unable” or “unwilling” to take action.
Nonetheless, varied US administrations have taken vastly totally different approaches to the courtroom, starting from reluctantly supportive to overtly antagonistic.
For his half, President Joe Biden has signalled extra cooperation underneath his administration, together with by lifting sanctions that his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, imposed on ICC officers.
In March, Biden additionally referred to as the courtroom’s arrest warrant for Putin “justified”. That got here after Congress final yr handed laws that broadened Washington’s capability to share proof with the ICC.
When Durbin pushed Austin on why the Protection Division was taking a special strategy than the Justice and State Departments, the Pentagon chief demurred.
“Why we’d maintain again proof towards this conflict prison Vladimir Putin and the horrible issues he’s doing, I don’t perceive in any respect,” mentioned Durbin. “You could have a compelling motive to not cooperate, what’s it?”
Austin responded: “Once more I’ll at all times prioritise safety of our army personnel. That’s my concern.”
Senator Lindsay Graham, a Republican, added that prosecuting Putin and the Russians accountable for conflict crimes would have a US nationwide safety profit.
“Mr Khan says we have now numerous priceless data that would speed up his prosecution not solely of Putin however of others,” Graham mentioned.
At a listening to final month, Graham praised the Justice Division for working with its Ukrainian counterpart to assist pursue conflict crimes prosecutions towards Russia and bashed the Protection Division for hindering such efforts. On the time, Deputy Legal professional Basic Lisa Monaco declined to touch upon inner discussions.
A State Division spokesperson has mentioned the US helps “a variety of worldwide investigations and inquiries into conflict crimes and atrocities in Ukraine”, together with these carried out by the ICC’s prosecutor.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a shock go to to The Hague final week, calling for a brand new worldwide tribunal to carry Putin accountable for the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia is not a member of the ICC and rejects its jurisdiction. Moscow denies committing atrocities in Ukraine.