Russia withdraws signature from International Criminal Court statute

Russia announced on 16 November 2016 it was formally withdrawing its signature from the founding statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The country's foreign ministry stated this decision had been taken because the court had failed to live up to hoped of the international community.

Russia signed the Rome statute in 2000 and cooperated with the court, but had not ratified the treaty and thus remained outside the ICC’s jurisdiction. This means that the latest move, though highly symbolic, would not change much in practice.

• Primary Source

The Independent, 16.11.16: Vladimir Putin orders Russia to withdraw support for International Court amid calls for Syria air strikes investigation http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-international-criminal-court-icc-leaves-pulls-out-withdraws-putin-assad-syria-war-aleppo-a7420676.html

Politico, 16.11.16: Russia to pull out of the ICC http://www.politico.eu/article/russia-to-pull-out-of-the-icc-international-criminal-court/

Sputnik International, 16.11.16: Russia Pulls Out From International Criminal Court http://sptnkne.ws/cHjP

The Wall Street Journal, 16.11.16: Russia to Withdraw From the International Criminal Court http://www.wsj.com/articles/moscow-ditches-international-criminal-court-1479298313

TASS, 16.11.16: Moscow says ICC falls short of expectations, fails to become independent judicial body http://tass.com/politics/912784

RT, 16.11.16: Russia refuses to ratify Rome Statute as ICC ‘failed to become truly independent’ https://www.rt.com/news/367109-russia-icc-rome-statute/

EurActiv, 17.11.16: Russia withdraws from International Criminal Court treaty http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/russia-withdraws-from-international-criminal-court-treaty/

EU: EEAS: Statement, 17.11.16: Statement by Federica Mogherini on Russia and the International Criminal Court https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/15171/

Euro|Topics: Debates, November 2016: International Criminal Court in crisis http://www.eurotopics.net/en/168829/international-criminal-court-in-crisis

The Conversation, 18.11.16: How the International Criminal Court can survive Russian and African scorn https://theconversation.com/how-the-international-criminal-court-can-survive-russian-and-african-scorn-69059

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