Russian President Vladimir Putin has opted not to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, held at St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
One of the primary reasons behind this decision is believed to be concerns over a possible arrest due to an international warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March 2023.
However, in practical terms, Putin faced little actual risk. Italy’s Ministry of Justice has taken no steps to implement the Hague court’s arrest warrant.
The warrant remains stalled in the offices of Via Arenula and has not been forwarded to the Prosecutor General of Rome, a necessary step for making it enforceable. As a result, the document is effectively a “piece of paper” with no legal force.
A prior case involving the arrest and release of Libyan general Osama Najeem Almasri in January this year has fueled further doubts about Italy’s willingness to enforce ICC warrants. In that instance, Italian authorities failed to make a clear decision, and Almasri returned to his country on an official flight, despite facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Now, in this case, Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio faces an inquiry by the Ministers’ Court—alongside Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and several other top officials—over alleged dereliction of official duty.
A Political Decision?
According to reports, the blocking of the ICC arrest warrant for Putin is believed to be a deliberate political decision. The Italian government has stated that heads of state and government enjoy diplomatic immunity while in office—a stance that contradicts the interpretation of the Hague Court, which does not recognize immunity in cases of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide, TCH reports.
In addition to Putin, the ICC’s wanted list includes other top Russian officials, such as Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova and former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. However, these warrants also remain unenforced in Italy.
Grave Accusations Against Putin
President Putin is accused of the illegal deportation and detention of Ukrainian children in Russia—acts classified as war crimes under the Rome Statute that established the ICC. Other officials face charges related to missile attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine during 2022–2023.
Meanwhile, Italy’s continued refusal to act on ICC requests risks damaging its relations with The Hague and its credibility in the international justice arena.
