Peskov: Russia's non-participation in ICC explained by national interests

Russia’s decision to not take part in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is explained by national interests, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"This is a position which the country assumed being guided by national interests," Sputnik cited Peskov as saying.

"This wording is contrary to reality and the position of the people of Crimea that they expressed at the referendum on the reunification with Russia," Peskov said. He gave a similar opinion on likening the situation in Donbass to a war between Russia and Ukraine. "This is contrary to reality as Donbass has been torn by a civil war, this is Ukraine’s domestic conflict," TASS cited the Kremlin spokesman as saying.

Peskov pointed out that Russia had never de jure fallen within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

"This just a formal decision. As you may know, we signed the relevant document but we never ratified it," Peskov added.

Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order on Russia’s non-participation in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.