World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 days ago
Japan protests Russia’s bid to extradite ICC president and eight staff members
Russia has asked the Netherlands and other countries to extradite International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane and eight other court officials.
Akane is Japanese, and the court is based in the Netherlands.
Moscow issued warrants for the nine after the ICC issued a 2023 arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.
A Moscow court sentenced the nine to prison terms in absentia last year.
Japan protested to Russia, calling the requests unjust and unacceptable.
The dispute comes as Japan also faces pressure over its support for the ICC while maintaining close ties with the United States, which has imposed sanctions on the court and some of its staff.
Japan says it will continue supporting the ICC and may make further protests to Russia.
Japan protested Russia’s requests to extradite International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane and eight other court officials.
Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office submitted the requests to the Netherlands and other countries on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The requests followed Russian warrants against the nine in response to the ICC’s 2023 arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.
Japan’s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki called the measures targeting ICC-linked individuals unjust and unacceptable.
Russia’s requests came amid wider tensions over the ICC, including U.S. sanctions against the court and its officials.
- Who
- Japan protested Russia’s requests targeting ICC President Tomoko Akane and eight other officials.
- What
- Russia requested their extradition to Russia; Japan said it would protest the requests.
- When
- Russia submitted the requests on Thursday, October 8, 2026; Japan protested on Friday, October 9.
- Where
- The requests were sent to the Netherlands and a number of other countries.
- Why
- Moscow acted in response to the ICC’s 2023 arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.
Russia
Japan
Basis for action
Russia
Moscow says the ICC issued arrest warrants against Russian citizens in violation of international law and without evidence.
Japan
Japan says measures targeting people connected to the ICC are unjust and unacceptable.
Response to the extradition requests
Russia
Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office requested that the Netherlands and other countries extradite the nine officials.
Japan
Japan protested to Moscow and said it may lodge further protests.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.
The Moscow City Court sentenced the nine ICC officials in absentia to prison terms.
Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office submitted extradition requests to the Netherlands and other countries.
Japan protested Russia’s requests.
- People targeted
- ICC President Tomoko Akane and eight other court officials
- Countries receiving requests
- The Netherlands and a number of other countries
- Russian court ruling
- Nine officials sentenced in absentia to prison terms in 2025
- Japan’s protest
- Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki said the measures were unjust and unacceptable
- Trigger cited
- ICC’s 2023 arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin
What people are saying
Measures targeting individuals connected to the ICC are unjust and unacceptable
We regret that Russia made extradition requests to multiple countries nevertheless.
The measures are incompatible with Japan’s consistent position, and Japan is deeply concerned about them
Sources
Japan protests Russia's extradition requests for ICC president Tomoko Akane and 8 other court staff
Japan protests Russia’s extradition requests for ICC president Tomoko Akane and eight other court staff
Japan slams Russian request for Netherlands to extradite ICC staff
Japan angry after Russia seeks extradition of ICC chief targeted by US
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