A senior Russian official has criticised the International Criminal Court (ICC) for issuing arrest warrants for senior Taliban leaders, calling the move politically motivated.

Konstantin Kosachev, deputy speaker of Russia’s Federation Council, made the remarks in a statement posted on his Telegram channel on Thursday, 10 July. He claimed the ICC had shown little interest in Afghanistan until Moscow began taking steps toward recognising the Taliban-led government.

Kosachev accused the ICC of applying double standards, alleging that the court has failed to investigate or act on alleged war crimes committed by Western forces and their allies during their military presence in Afghanistan.

The ICC announced earlier this week that it had issued arrest warrants for Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani on charges of crimes against humanity, including gender-based persecution.