As proof of atrocities allegedly perpetrated by Russia’s military during its invasion of Ukraine emerged this week, US President Joe Biden urged for Putin to be punished for war crimes. Mr. Biden’s involvement follows the release of satellite images by the earth observation company Maxar that revealed bodies littering the streets of Bucha during the town’s Russian occupation. Ukraine has launched a war crimes inquiry after 410 civilian remains were discovered in and around Kyiv.
Some were recovered in mass graves, while others were discovered with their wrists bound and supposedly shot from close range.
Russia asserts that no people were harmed during the Russian takeover of Bucha and that the photographs of horrors were fabricated by Ukraine.
Mr. Biden, on the other hand, stated, “You may recall that I was chastised for labelling Putin a war criminal.”
“You witnessed what occurred in Bucha; he is a war criminal, but we need to gather all the information so that a war crimes trial can be held.”
According to Vladimir Kara-Mazra, a Russian opposition leader, one of Putin’s greatest worries is that his Russian counterpart will be “held responsible” for alleged crimes done by his country’s forces in Ukraine.
Mr Kara-Mazra, a former Russian Parliament candidate and deputy head of the People’s Freedom Party, alleged that Putin is “afraid” of being held accountable for the atrocities of his dictatorship.
He made the assertion in November 2020, following the approval by the Russian parliament’s parliamentary committee of a measure providing previous Russian presidents perpetual protection from prosecution.
According to the bill, a former president may not be charged on criminal or administrative charges, nor may he or she be detained, arrested, or searched.
“One of the immunity law’s co-authors, Andrei Klishas, stated that it intended to avoid ‘unfounded prosecution of a former head of state,'” Mr Kara-Mazra wrote in the Washington Post after the measure was enacted.
“Despite the fact that previous fallen tyrants, from Slobodan Milosevic to Alberto Fujimori, believed their persecutions were without merit,” said a senior Russian official, “such candour from a top Russian official is amazing.”
“Klishad, a member of Russia’s upper chamber, underscores what observers have long suspected is Putin’s greatest fear: that he will be held accountable if he loses the security of his Kremlin office.”
“During his two decades in power, Putin has done many things for which he could be held liable both under domestic and international law, including rigging elections, imprisoning opponents, silencing media outlets, and other abuses of power, as well as atrocities committed during conflicts in Chechnya, Georgia, Ukraine, and Syria.”
Mr. Kara-Mazra was not the first Russian lawmaker to mention Putin’s concern of losing the Kremlin’s protection.
“Putin is scared of the very notion of a change in administration, a topic that is gradually making its way into even the most loyal groups,” said Lev Shlosberg, a Russian opposition leader and regional legislator, during a local television interview.
“They demonstrate his recognition that the government might change, raising the issue of his accountability.”
Following the discovery of evidence of war crimes in Bucha, the West levied yet another severe set of coordinated sanctions against Russia.
According to the US State Department, reliable claims of rape, torture, and summary killings carried out by Russian soldiers exist.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon stated it was “pretty evident” that Russia was behind the Bucha massacre, though additional study is needed to determine which forces were specifically responsible.
During a televised address on Monday night, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky also accused Russia of war crimes and warned that Putin may seek to conceal proof of more atrocities.
