Russia’s Withdrawal from International Criminal Court

Running Head: International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
Russia’s Withdrawal
System04128

International Criminal Court
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Signing.......................................................................................................................................2
Ratification.................................................................................................................................2
International Treaties on Withdrawal.........................................................................................2
Bibliography...............................................................................................................................4
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International Criminal Court
Introduction
On 16th November 2016, Russian President signed an executive order to withdraw
from International Criminal Court. Russia pulled out from Rome Statute which gives powers
and status to International Criminal Court. Russia signed Rome Statute in 2000 but never
ratified it (Russia: Decision to pull out of the Rome Statute is a blow to international justice,
2016). The reason for withdrawal was that International Criminal Court gave its judgment
against Russia when Russia seized Crimea peninsula in Ukraine in 2014. ICC said that it was
an armed conflict. At that time, Russia was u der severe pressure when it did airstrikes in
Syria and bombed the civilians. In 2008, Russia was alleged doing war crimes. Its
headquarters is Hague, Netherlands and it is an international tribunal. It came into force
through Rome Statute in 2002. It is having the authority to prosecute accused for
international crime like crimes related to war, crime against humans and mass murder (Russia
withdraws from International Criminal Court ... , 2016).
Signing
To establish any treaty, the representatives of each country held a conference meeting.
They agree on the terms and conditions which will be binding on every signatory country.
After reaching to the agreement, the treaty will be signed by the representatives of the
countries. When the treaty is signed then it is inferred that the country will be complying
with the treaty and its provisions but it not binding.
Ratification
After the treaty is signed, the member states have to comply according to national
procedure. There is different procedure in different countries but mostly it is done through
approval by Parliament of the respective country. After approval of applying in domestic law,
the country will notify the other members of the treaty that the treaty binds them. This
process is Ratification. The treaty is biding on the state now.
International Treaties on Withdrawal
As Russia was a signatory country to the Rome Statue, so the procedure to withdraw
from the treaty is quite easy. If Russia would have ratified the treaty then Russia had to enact
the treaty in their domestic level. To show the consent, the country has to implement in their
domestic law under Article 14 of Vienna Convention on Law of Treaties. Russia should have
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