Russia Seeks Extradition of Nine ICC Officials Including Japanese President Akane

Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has formally requested the extradition of nine International Criminal Court (ICC) officials from the Netherlands and other countries, following their conviction in absentia by Moscow City Court in December 2025. The nine officials include ICC President Tomoko Akane (a Japanese national), ICC First Vice-President C. L. K. Carranza, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, and six ICC judges. They were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 3.5 to 15 years on charges including unlawfully initiating criminal cases, unlawful detention, and attacking persons enjoying international protection under Russian law.

The extradition requests are framed by Russia as retaliation for the ICC's 2023 arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin and others over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, including the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied Ukrainian territories. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office stated that the ICC's arrest warrants violated fundamental principles of international law and were issued without evidence. Russia has not ratified the ICC's Rome Statute and does not recognize the court's jurisdiction.

Japan has lodged formal protests against the extradition requests. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki called the measures "unjustified and unacceptable" and stated that Japan has "repeatedly conveyed" to Russia that such measures are "unfair and unacceptable." Japan said it intends to pursue further diplomatic responses, including additional protests and continued communication with the ICC and other Rome Statute signatories. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed Japan's support for the ICC during parliamentary sessions, stating Tokyo would continue to defend the institution as part of its commitment to international law.

The timing of Russia's move coincides with mounting international pressure on the ICC from multiple directions. The United States sanctioned Akane and approximately a dozen other ICC officials in August 2026, accusing the court of exceeding its mandate and targeting U.S. and Israeli officials. Japan faces a delicate diplomatic balance between supporting the ICC—a key element of its commitment to international law—and maintaining its alliance with the United States, which opposes the court. Tensions between Japan and Russia have also escalated following Putin's August 2026 visit to the Kuril Islands, a territory disputed between the two countries since World War II.

Experts assess that Russia's extradition requests are unlikely to succeed in the Netherlands, which hosts the ICC and is among its principal supporters. However, the requests may create practical risks for ICC officials if they travel to countries with closer relations to Moscow.