Commending the International Criminal Court's issuance of an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, and Maria Lvova-Belova, Commissioner for Children's Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, for two war crimes related to the forcible deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.

Whereas, on March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, and Maria Lvova-Belova, Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, for committing two war crimes related to the forcible deportation of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation, stating that the Court believes that each suspect bears responsibility Whereas, on February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation at the direction of Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine; Whereas, in November 2022, Amnesty International published a report which documented the forcible deportation of Ukrainian civilians, including children, by Russian forces and their proxies into Russia; Whereas the Russian Federation has amended its domestic legislation to enable the swift placement and adoption of these forcibly deported children with Russian foster families while issuing said children Russian citizenship; Whereas the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) issued a report on March 16, 2023, which found that the Russian Federation has committed war crimes, including forcibly deporting children from occupied territories in Ukraine to the Russian Federation, since February 24, 2022; Whereas the March 2023 UNHRC report stated that International humanitarian law prohibits the evacuation of children by a party to the armed conflict, with the exception of a temporary evacuation … [for] reasons relating to the health or medical treatment … The written consent of parents or legal guardians is required … The transfers were not justified by safety or medical reasons Whereas the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab found that Russian adoption facilities are engaging in systematic re-education integration programs Whereas the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab also verified that thousands of Ukrainian children, some only toddlers, have been victims of this forcible deportation to Russia and that many of these children are being held in 43 camps across Russian Federation territory, including two camps in Siberia; Whereas the 117th Congress passed legislation directing the United States to assist with investigations and prosecutions of foreign nationals related to the situation in Ukraine, including to support victims and witnesses Whereas President Zelenskyy of Ukraine has thanked the ICC for its historic in the criminal proceeding being investigated by [Ukraine’s] law enforcement officers, more than 16,000 forced deportations of Ukrainian children by the occupier have already been recorded. But the real, full number of deportees may be much higher That the House of Representatives— (1) denounces the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and calls on the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw all forces from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine; (2) stands outraged by actions taken by Russian Armed Forces, Government, and their proxies to remove Ukrainian children from their homes and forcibly integrate them into Russian society; (3) condemns the ongoing, unlawful, and systematic deportation, forcible transfer, and re-education (4) recognizes the devastating psychological, intergenerational harm and trauma caused to Ukrainian parents, families, and communities by the forcible removal of their children and to the Ukrainian children separated from their families and communities; (5) supports the decision of the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, and Maria Lvova-Belova, Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, for committing war crimes related to the unlawful deportation of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation and within occupied territories of Ukraine; (6) calls for the Russian Federation to immediately reveal any existing records of the deportation of children and adoption of deported children to Ukrainian authorities; (7) calls for the Russian Federation to immediately return all deported Ukrainian children back to their homes in Ukraine so they can be reunited with their families and communities; (8) condemns the Russian Federation for all atrocity crimes and the gross violations of human rights it has committed in Ukraine such as targeting civilians, destroying critical civilian infrastructure related to energy and health care, and using torture and sexual violence as weapons of war; and (9) calls on President Biden to direct all departments and agencies to support the International Criminal Court’s investigation and prosecution of atrocity crimes committed in Ukraine, including those related to the Russian Federation’s unlawful transfer and deportation of children.

Summary: This resolution expresses support for the International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued for Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russian Commissioner for Children's Rights, for war crimes related to unlawful deportation of children from occupied areas of Ukraine. Expressing outrage at the actions of Russia in removing children from their homes in occupied Ukraine and forcibly integrating them into Russian society, the resolution calls for Russia to immediately return all deported Ukrainian children back to their homes in Ukraine.