Hungary Still Obligated to Arrest ICC Warrant Subjects, Including Putin, Until 2026
Hungary remains legally bound to execute arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), including one for Russian President Vladimir Putin, until its official withdrawal from the court takes effect on June 2, 2026.
The country formally notified the United Nations of its intention to leave the ICC yesterday, October 16, 2025, but according to the court’s rules, remains a signatory to the Rome Statute until that date. This means Hungary is still obligated to detain individuals under ICC warrant should they enter its territory before June 2026. The ICC issued the warrant for Putin in March 2023, alleging war crimes related to the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine.
Budapest has publicly criticized the Hague-based court, alleging political motivation. This move makes Hungary the first member state of the European Union to withdraw from the ICC since its establishment in 2002, potentially setting a precedent for other nations questioning the court’s jurisdiction. The Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties, which oversees the ICC, expressed regret, stating the decision “clouds our shared quest for justice and weakens efforts to fight impunity.”
Enforcement of ICC warrants has historically proven challenging; in 2015, South Africa failed to detain then-President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, despite an existing warrant. Similar instances involving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Mongolia and Hungary resulted in findings of “non-cooperation” by ICC judges, though no further penalties were imposed. For more information on the ICC’s structure and function, see the International Criminal Court’s official website. The court relies entirely on member states to carry out arrests, lacking an independent enforcement mechanism, and concerns are growing about the impact of non-compliance on international justice efforts, as detailed by Human Rights Watch.
Officials stated that the ICC will continue to monitor the situation and expects full cooperation from Hungary until its withdrawal is finalized.
