Japan protests Russia’s extradition requests for ICC president Tomoko Akane and eight other court staff
Japan has formally protested Russia's attempt to extradite the president of the International Criminal Court, Tomoko Akane, and eight other court staff. The move follows Moscow's issuance of arrest warrants for the officials in retaliation for the ICC's warrant against Vladimir Putin.
Why it matters
This highlights the escalating diplomatic tensions between Japan and Russia and underscores the ongoing conflict between international judicial institutions and state powers.
Japan on Friday (October 9, 2026) slammed Russia’s request for the extradition from the Netherlands of the president of the International Criminal Court, a Japanese national, and eight other officials of the court based in the European country.
The extradition requests came after Moscow issued warrants for the nine in response to the ICC’s 2023 arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine. The Moscow City Court last year sentenced the nine in absentia to prison terms.
A high-ranking Japanese official said Friday (October 9) that Tokyo has expressed its protest to Moscow over the requests.
“Measures targeting individuals connected to the ICC are unjust and unacceptable,” Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki told reporters. “We regret that Russia made extradition requests to multiple countries nevertheless.”
Ozaki said Japan would “respond appropriately, including lodging additional protests.”
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