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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Associated Press in Washington

Is Vladimir Putin a war criminal, and who decides?

Vladimir Putin.
Some countries have their own laws for prosecuting war crimes. Germany is already investigating Vladimir Putin. Photograph: Sergei Bobylev/AP

Joe Biden called Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” on Wednesday for the unfolding onslaught in Ukraine, where hospitals and maternity wards have been bombed.

But declaring someone a war criminal is not as simple as just saying the words. There are set definitions and processes for determining who is a war criminal and how they should be punished.

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