Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a directive on Wednesday to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague. The ICC is meant to be the world's first permanent court and works to prosecute leaders and countries for war crimes, genocide and "crimes against humanity."
In 2000, Russia signed the Rome treaty establishing the ICC, but never ratified it. The ICC was established in 1998, and currently has over 100 member states.
Like Russia, the US also signed the treaty but declared in 2002 that they had "no intention" of ratifying it.
Last Tuesday, the UN General Assembly's Human Rights Committee approved a resolution condemning Russia's "occupation" of Crimea and Sevastopol, and blamed Russia for discrimination against Crimean residents, as well as rights abuses.
Last Monday, the ICC issued a preliminary report describing the events in Crimea as "an international armed conflict between the Ukraine and the Russian Federation."
Russia is also under continuous threat of sanctions and being sued in the ICC, since they are carrying out airstrikes to help Syrian nationals fight ISIS. READ MORE
