President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to Uzbekistan over this weekend – May 26-27. Yuri Ushakov, an advisor to the President of Russia on foreign policy issues, was quoted as saying.  

“For now I can say that today or tomorrow there will be a visit to Belarus, and on Sunday-Monday, there will be a visit to Uzbekistan,” Ushakov was cited as telling journalists in Moscow on May 23.  

He reportedly further added that the parties plan to sign a number of joint documents. 

RBC reports that President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in late February invited his Russian counterpart to pay visit to Uzbekistan.   

On May 21, Russian leader held phone talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.  They reportedly discussed preparations for the upcoming visit of Putin and a number of issues related to bilateral cooperation between their countries, including further expansion trade and economic cooperation.

Uzbek president’s press service says the heads of state paid special attention to the implementation of projects aimed at promoting cooperation between leading enterprises and cultural and humanitarian exchange programs through interregional contacts.  

Uzbek leader visited Moscow on May 8-9 to attend Victory Day events.   

Recall, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on March 17 issued warrants of arrest for two individuals in the context of the situation in Ukraine: Mr. Vladimir Putin and Ms. Maria Lvova-Belova.

Putin 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 February 24, 2022.   

Ms. Maria Lvova-Belova, Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, is allegedly also 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 states parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court are those sovereign states that have ratified, or have otherwise become party to, the Rome Statute. The Rome Statute is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court that has jurisdiction over certain international crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes that are committed by nationals of states parties or within the territory of states parties.  States parties are legally obligated to cooperate with the Court when it requires, such as in arresting and transferring indicted persons or providing access to evidence and witnesses.  

Like a number of other countries, Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of this court, and Uzbekistan is also not signatory to the International Criminal Court.