Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved an order to withdraw the nation from the process of joining the International Criminal Court (ICC). Russia signed the Rome statute, which governs the ICC, in 2000 but never ratified the agreement to become a member. 

    The decision came after an ICC ruling that Russia's activity in Crimea amounted to an "ongoing occupation", according to the (BBC).     Russia thus joins the US and other nations which have rejected the court.

    The court ruled Russia's 2014 takeover of the Crimea peninsula had been an armed conflict between it and Ukraine. This would mean the annexation fell under the court's jurisdiction.

Source: QNA