<\/p>\n

One of Vladimir Putin’s most significant officers has vowed to testify against the Russian president.<\/p>\n

Igor Salikov is a former colonel of the Russian Defense Ministry’s military intelligence service (GRU), who also previously worked a senior instructor within the Wagner Group.<\/p>\n

The former Redut commander, according to Dutch public broadcaster NPO1, has opted to testify about Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.<\/p>\n

Reports say Salikov witnessed “false flag operations” in Donbas and “atrocities against civilians” including the torture and execution of prisoners of war.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> Ukraine poised to drive Russia out as Putin’s forces ‘struggle in Black Sea’<\/strong><\/p>\n

Other crimes he claims to have seen included the kidnapping of children who were “transported across the border to Belarus”.<\/p>\n

Salikov left Russia alongside his family in June 2022, flying to South Africa’s Cape Town and then on to the Netherlands. He now intends to seek political asylum.<\/p>\n

During an interview with the Dutch broadcaster, the 60-year-old said: “I have seen people from the secret services take large numbers of children without parents across the border into Belarus.”<\/p>\n

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POLITICO reported that Salikov said the alleged war crimes were carried out on the orders of the Ministry – as well as coming directly from Putin’s offices.<\/p>\n

Back in March an arrest warrant was issued for Putin by the ICC over the claims regarding the transfer of children to Russia after the country invaded Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Kyiv and other European and Western allies have continued to push for a tribunal in order to investigate Russia’s “crimes of aggression” during the war.<\/p>\n

According to Salikov, he left Russia after refusing to carry out an order to execute civilians and that he had “lost faith in the Russian cause”.<\/p>\n

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• <\/p>\n

  It comes as Putin announced he was willing to talk about a peace deal – a claim Western officials believe will only happen after the US presidential election in November.<\/p>\n

  Putin told his closet allies in a meeting: “In Ukraine, those who are aggressive towards Russia, and in Europe and in the United States – do they want to negotiate?<\/p>\n

  “Let them. But we will do it based on our national interests. We will not give up what is ours.”<\/p>\n

  Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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