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International Criminal Court judge who issued arrest warrant for Putin wanted by Russia

The entry gives the judge’s full name - Sergio Gerardo Ugalde God·nez - and says the judge is wanted "in accordance with an article of the Russian Criminal Code"

© EPA-EFE/ PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW / POOL

MOSCOW, November 8. /TASS/. An entry about judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Sergio Godinez, who earlier issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, has been added to the Russian Interior Ministry’s database of wanted persons.

The entry gives the judge’s full name - Sergio Gerardo Ugalde God·nez - and says the judge is wanted "in accordance with an article of the Russian Criminal Code.".

On March 17, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian presidential commissioner for children's rights, on charges of alleged involvement in war crimes, such as "illegal deportation of the population," including children, and their illegal transfer to Russia.

On March 20, Russia’s Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against ICC Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan and judges Rosario Salvatore Aitala, Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godinez and Tomoko Akane for taking knowingly illegal action, as there were no grounds for bringing the Russian president and children's ombudsman to criminal responsibility.

In May, charges were brought against Karim Khan and Rosario Aitala. Both were put on the wanted list. Later, Tomoko Akane was also declared wanted. ICC First Vice President Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza and Judge Bertram Schmitt are also wanted on criminal charges.

In September, the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Piotr Hofmanski has been declared wanted.

Under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons of December 14, 1973, heads of state enjoy absolute immunity from the jurisdiction of foreign countries.

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