Russia’s been accused of committing war crimes in Ukraine. What does that mean?

BOMBS.

GUNS.

AND DEATH – ALL TRAGIC, PREDICTABLE PARTS OF BATTLE.

BUT, IN A WAR, SOME BEHAVIOR IS ACTUALLY OFF LIMITS. AND, TECHNICALLY, CAN BE CONSIDERED A CRIME.

SO, WHAT, EXACTLY, IS A WAR CRIME?

LET’S GET THIS STRAIGHT.

INTERNATIONAL RULES AGAINST SPECIFIC ACTIVITY DURING WARTIME FIRST CAME OUT OF THE 1949 GENEVA CONVENTIONS.

MORE RECENTLY, THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (OR ICC) LISTED THEM:

WILLFULLY DEPRIVING A PRISONER OF WAR THE RIGHTS OF A FAIR AND REGULAR TRIAL

INTENTIONAL ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIANS, NON-MILITARY TARGETS, PEACEKEEPERS AND HUMANITARIAN AID

RAPE AND SEXUAL SLAVERY

THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT INVESTIGATES THESE CRIMES WITH A PROCEDURE SIMILAR TO THE UNITED STATES’ LEGAL PROCESS.

THE CATCH IS, THE ICC DOESN’T HAVE ITS OWN BODY OF PEOPLE TO ENFORCE THESE INTERNATIONAL RULES.

SO IT’S LEFT UP TO COUNTRIES TO ARREST AND TRANSFER ACCUSED PEOPLE TO THE ICC DETENTION CENTER IN THE HAGUE–A CITY IN THE NETHERLANDS.

ULTIMATELY, WITHOUT A WAY OF ENSURING THESE COUNTRIES DO THEIR PART, MANY WAR CRIMES GO UNRECOGNIZED AND UNRESOLVED. THE PERCENTAGE THAT’RE ACTUALLY BROUGHT TO TRIAL TAKE YEARS TO PROSECUTE, AND THE MORE TIME THAT PASSES, THE LESS ATTENTION THEY GET.

GOT IT STRAIGHT?

LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS AND MAKE SURE YOU HIT THE STRAIGHT ARROW BIAS METER.