Vladimir Putin could 'thrown in jail' breaking Russia's 'cycle of impunity'

A human rights lawyer has revealed how Vladimir Putin could finally be arrested after facing calls to be brought to justice for war crimes and crimes of aggression in his war on Ukraine.

Oleksandra Matviichuk, a prominent Ukrainian human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize winner, highlighted the international community's legal obligations that could potentially lead to Putin's arrest.

Matviichuk's remarks come amid growing pressure on countries to hold Putin accountable for war crimes related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking about the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) ongoing efforts, Matviichuk noted that all countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute, including Brazil, are legally bound to fulfil arrest warrants issued by the court.

This includes the one targeting Putin for alleged war crimes. Brazil’s President recently invited Putin to attend the G20 summit in November, placing the country in a precarious legal position.

She told the Daily Express: "It will be very important for Brazil to fulfil the international obligation, regardless of the opinion of their politicians, and arrest Putin if he decides to come to Brazil for the G20 summit."

She emphasised that Brazil’s compliance could set a precedent for other nations and potentially shift the trajectory of international justice.

However, despite the ICC’s arrest warrant, Putin's immunity as a sitting head of state complicates his prosecution under current international law.

Matviichuk underscored that the ICC lacks jurisdiction to prosecute the crime of aggression - the act of initiating conflict - for which Putin and his senior military officials are allegedly responsible.

To bridge this gap, Matviichuk called for the establishment of a "special tribunal for aggression" - a court designed specifically to hold individuals accountable for initiating wars.

"Dozens of countries support the idea of creating this tribunal," she said, adding that such a court could provide the legal mechanism to overcome the immunity currently protecting Putin.

Yet, she warned of potential pitfalls if the tribunal’s structure fails to ensure full accountability. She argued: "If this tribunal is not fully international, it will have no power to prosecute the most responsible person for the crime of aggression."

For Matviichuk, the need for such a tribunal is urgent, as Russia’s long history of using war as a geopolitical tool has gone unchecked for too long.

From Chechnya to Georgia, and more recently in Ukraine and Syria, Russian forces have been accused of committing heinous war crimes.

Matviichuk believes that Russia’s consistent ability to evade accountability has created a "cycle of impunity", one that Putin’s regime has exploited to its advantage.

She said: "It is a way to sustainable peace. If we look at the history of Russia, Russia always uses war as a tool to achieve its geopolitical interests.

"If we want to prevent wars in the future, we have to punish the state and the leaders who start such wars in the present."

Without accountability, Matviichuk warns, Russia and its leaders will continue to act without fear of repercussions, perpetuating cycles of violence and conflict.