Arrest warrant for "President Putin" issues by International Criminal Court (ICC)

 International Criminal Court issuing of an arrest warrant against his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin decision support by US President Joe Biden

Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, born on 7 October 1952, President of the Russian Federation, is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation (under articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute). The crimes were allegedly committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022. There are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for the aforementioned crimes, (i) for having committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through others (article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute), and (ii) for his failure to exercise control properly over civilian and military subordinates who committed the acts, or allowed for their commission, and who were under his effective authority and control, pursuant to superior responsibility (article 28(b) of the Rome Statute).

Ms Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, born on 25 October 1984, Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation (under articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute). The crimes were allegedly committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022. There are reasonable grounds to believe that Ms Lvova-Belova bears individual criminal responsibility for the aforementioned crimes, for having committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through others (article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute).

Why it matters: The arrest warrants for Putin and another Russian official represent some of the first international charges issued since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

• The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, Russia's commissioner for children’s rights, over similar allegations.
• More than 40 countries that are party to the ICC had requested its intervention, according to the New York Times, which first reported on forthcoming war cases and arrest warrants.
• The Kremlin has previously said it does not recognize the ICC or its jurisdiction, according to state-run media agency TASS.

State of play: Russia systematically relocated at least 6,000 children from Ukraine to Russia since the start of the war, a Conflict Observatory report published in February found.

• Many of the children, who were taken to camps or other facilities, engaged in pro-Russia reeducation efforts, per the report. Some of the facilities were used for foster care or adoption in Russia and Crimea.
• Karim Khan, the ICC's chief prosecutor, previously indicated that the alleged abductions were a priority for his investigators.
• Russian missile strikes have frequently targeted energy facilities, water supplies, and residential buildings.

The forced deportation or forcible transfer of populations from land they lawfully occupy by occupying power is outlawed by the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.

• Russia signed the statute but later withdrew its support in 2016.
• Ukraine is not a state party to the Rome Statute but has twice accepted the ICC's jurisdiction in response to alleged crimes occurring on its territory.

What they're saying: "This is an important moment for the process of justice before the ICC," Judge Piotr Hofmański, president of the ICC, said on Friday.

• Hofmański said the contents of the arrest warrants are secret in order to protect the identities of victims.
• "Nevertheless, the judges of the chamber decided with this case to make the existence of the warrants public in the interest of justice and to prevent the commission of future crimes."
• Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba applauded the ICC's action, saying Putin and Lvova-Belova "will be held accountable for stealing children."

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian-state media on Friday that Russia considers the ICC's warrants "null and void" because it does not recognize the court's jurisdiction.

• Peskov did not comment on the crimes the court alleged against Putin and Lvova-Belova, nor did Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
• Lvova-Belova praised the arrest warrant against her, framing it as the international community recognizing her work of rescuing children from a war zone, according to Russian-state media.
• Lvova-Belova has been personally sanctioned by the European Union, the and Japan, U.S., Switzerland, Australia, Canada and the U.K.

The big picture: It's unlikely that either of the cases will make it to trial, since the ICC cannot conduct a trial unless the relevant people are in custody, and Russia is unlikely to turn over its own people over.

• The New York Times reported earlier this month that the Pentagon was blocking the Biden administration from sharing U.S. intelligence with the ICC about Russian war crimes in Ukraine for fear that it could set a precedent for prosecuting Americans.
• The ICC launched an investigation into allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide in Ukraine in the early days of the war.

Who is Vijayapriya Nithyananda, ‘Kailasa’ representative at UN Event? And Kailasa is a country of whom?

“Kailasa”, the country set up self-styled god man and rap accused Nithyananda, recently participated in a UN meeting held in Geneva.

The images of a woman in saffron clothes, gold (or golden coloured) jewellery, rudraksh and a head gear, speaking at a United Nations event, claiming to be the representative of self-styled godman and rape-accused Nithyananda and his “country”, got the Indian internet talking.

Speaking at a meeting of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in Geneva last week, the woman introduced herself as Vijayapriya Nithyananda, the “permanent ambassador to the UN from the sovereign state of Shri Kailasa”.

She is referred to as "Ma Vijayapriya Nithyananda" by Kailasa on Twitter.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Vijayapriya completed her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Canada's University of Manitoba in 2014. She is proficient in English, French, Creole and Pidgins.

At college, she claims to have been on the dean's honour list for “outstanding academic performance”. She has also received international undergraduate student scholarship in 2013 and 2014.

“Kailasa is the first sovereign state for Hindus, established by the supreme pontiff of Hinduism, Nithyanand Paramashivam, who is reviving the enlightened Hindu civilisation and its 10,000 indigenous traditions of Hinduism, including the Adi Shaivite indigenous agricultural tribes for which the supreme pontiff of Hinduism is the leader as well,” Vijayapriya Nithyananda said when it was her turn to speak at the UN meet, a video of which has been posted on the United Nations website.

Nithyananda is the main accused in several cases in India, including rape, torture, kidnapping and wrongful confinement of children, under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He is also being reportedly investigated by French authorities for an alleged fraud of $400,000. Nithyananda fled from India in 2019.

What is the UN event that ‘Kailasa' attended?

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) is the body of 18 independent experts that monitors implementation of the United Nations treaty called International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The panel meets twice a year. During its meeting, usually one day is devoted to a general discussion of a particular right or of a particular aspect of the covenant.

“The United States of Kailasa” representatives spoke at the 19th meeting at the 73rd session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, held in Geneva, Switzerland.

It was the day of general discussion on sustainable development.

The verified Twitter account of Kailasa has posted several photos of its representatives meeting various diplomats from other countries on the sidelines of the UN event.

Fake LinkedIn profile of start up founder, generated by AI, gets funding offer in 24 hours

 

The man also mentions in the fake profile that he has been working on “building something new” for the past one month and also that he is from New York.

The man's fake profile and the message from an user who claimed he knows his former colleagues. (Image: roshanpateI/Twitter)

The Chief Executive Officer of a medical bill payment platform tested the reach and skill of Artificial Intelligence and generated a LinkedIn profile for a fake founder of a company using AI.

Roshan Patel shared his interesting experiment and its results on Twitter. For a founder named “Chad Smith”, Patel had a list of characteristics for the profile. Smith is a white male, an alumni of Stripe, a Stanford University dropout, a polymath and going through Y Combinator – a company that helps early-stage startups get launched.

And these fake details were enough for Patel to get a funding offer from a VC analyst in just 24 hours.

Patel also mentions in the fake profile that he has been working on “building something new” for the past one month and also that he is from New York.

“I created a fake LinkedIn profile of a founder. AI-generated white male face. Stripe alum. Stanford dropout. Going through YC. "Polymath". Within 24 hours, I had a VC to reach out to invest,” Patel tweeted with screenshots that are viral with 9 million views and thousands of likes.

He also shared a screenshot of the message he received from the potential investor.

“Hey Chad – I’m an analyst for XXXX ventures and saw you were starting your founder journey. A few ex-Stripe buddies of mine had great things to say about you and I’d love to connect to learn more about what you’re building and share more about our fund,” the message from the man reads. His name and company have been hidden in the screenshot.

“I know a bunch of people who worked at Stripe and NONE of them have anything good to say about Chad Smith,” joked a user in the comments.

“A few ex-Stripe buddies of mine had great things to say about you” — This is haunting, terrifying. American Psycho remake material,” read another comment.

The incident also highlights the potential dangers of AI technology in the wrong hands. While AI has the potential to revolutionize many industries, it can also be used for malicious purposes, such as creating fake identities or spreading misinformation.

Roshan Patel is the founder and CEO of “Walnut”.