The Chairman of the Russian State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, said Russia should adopt a law similar to the American ‘Service-Members Protection Act’ which was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President George W Bush in 2002. The law has since been dubbed the ‘Hague invasion act’ due to it implying the potential use of military force against the international criminal court (ICC,) which is headquartered in The Hague. The law was designed to protect American servicemen as well as elected and appointed officials from prosecution by international courts that the U.S. is not a party to. The law allows for the American President to use “all means necessary and appropriate to bring about the release of any U.S. or allied personnel.” The U.S. is not a party to the Rome Statute which regulates the activities of the ICC. Russia signed the Rome Statute in 2000, but it was never ratified.
Volodin believes Russia should pass a similar law alongside a complete ban on any ICC activity on Russian territory. The law would allow for the prosecution of those who aid the international institution from within Russia. These statements from Volodin come after the ICC issued a warrant for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as other Russian officials.
