File:WantedWarCrime36.jpg

Wanted War Criminal, banned at the protest action; perhaps, somewhere in the UK at year 2022, during the Russia-Ukraine war.

Image by BBC ^[1]

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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60690688

What is a war crime and could Putin be prosecuted over Ukraine?

By Dominic Casciani Legal correspondent, BBC News

23 May 2022

A court in Ukraine has jailed a Russian tank commander for life for killing a civilian at the first war crimes trial since the conflict began.

Ukraine says it has identified more than 10,000 possible war crimes, However, the Russian government denies it has been targeting civilians.

The International Criminal Court has also sent a team of investigators and forensics experts to the country.

What is a war crime?

It may not seem like it, but "even war has rules", as the International Committee of the Red Cross puts it.

These are contained in treaties called the Geneva Conventions and a string of other international laws and agreements.

Civilians cannot be deliberately attacked - nor can the infrastructure that is vital to their survival.

Some weapons are banned because of the indiscriminate or appalling suffering they cause - such as anti-personnel landmines and chemical or biological weapons.

The sick and wounded must be cared for - including injured soldiers, who have rights as prisoners of war.

Serious offences such as murder, rape or mass persecution of a group are known as "crimes against humanity" or, in some circumstances, "genocide".

What did the Russian soldier do?

The 21-year-old Russian tank commander Vadim Shishimarin admitted shooting 62-year-old Oleksandr Shelipov in the head, a few days after the invasion began.

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