Several dozen protesters gathered outside The Hague’s Peace Palace, calling for Vladimir Putin to be tried for war crimes rather than re-elected. The rally coincided with Putin’s inauguration day, turning it into a stage for global outcry.
![](https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-044e85fe-e51a-4c30-a0ab-930aac6224cc.jpeg)
Participants, many from Germany, showcased a striking carnival float depicting Putin in a striped prison uniform, complete with blood-stained hands and shackled by a ball and chain. The group, waving Ukrainian flags and bearing placards that read “Putin to The Hague,” voiced a strong message against the Russian leader, Sky News reports.
Dina Musina, an activist from a Berlin-based NGO that supports Russian prisoners, emphasized the importance of the demonstration. “We need to raise awareness about Putin’s crimes internationally; he must be held accountable,” she stated.
![Protest in The Hague, 7 May 2024. Photo by Sky News](https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-a972d298-8d16-48b7-bb72-62ba8faaf6a0.jpeg)
The International Criminal Court (ICC), located near the protest site in The Hague, had previously issued arrest warrants in March 2023 for Putin and the Russian Children’s Commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova. They are accused of war crimes, specifically relating to the abduction of Ukrainian children.
![Pics: Reuters](https://liveblog.digitalimages.sky/lc-images-sky/lcimg-41298bf8-db2f-45bb-9855-15dc824737c6.jpeg)
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