Russian Discourse on International Criminal Law

This article argues that Russia's continued use of force against Ukraine since 2014 has virtually ended the scholarly debate on international criminal law (ICL) in the Russian scholarly community. As shall be seen, mainstream legal and political discourse overlooks the crimes under international law - genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression - allegedly committed by Russian nationals, and effectively reduces ICL to a propaganda tool. Furthermore, Russia is reluctant to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC). Ongoing international and transnational investigations and prosecutions against Russian nationals on charges of alleged crimes under ICL are likely to reinforce Russia's isolation.