There are several reasons why Putin is losing the war against organized crime, but one question stands out in particular. First of all, is Russia really signing the International Criminal Court (ICC)? If so, how can Russia possibly be held accountable for crimes committed by its citizens? Second, the ICC may have a very difficult time prosecuting Russian criminals, since Russia has no membership in the organization. Third, Russia may be reluctant to hand over its fugitive criminals to a court, which would further complicate the situation. Therefore, the solution lies in diplomacy and politics.
Third, the lack of an independent media in Russia has facilitated a repressive climate. The opposition-controlled media in other countries helped solve this problem. But in Russia, the government has shut down notable independent media outlets and restricted social media access. And Putin has recently enacted emergency measures, including harsher sanctions against spreading “fake” information on the Internet. In addition, international media outlets have pulled their local staffs, and anti-war protesters have been arrested in mass.
The war in Ukraine has led to a refugee crisis. The vast majority of refugees are women and children. Most of them are headed for Poland. As of May 11, Poland has hosted more than 3.2 million refugees, and many of them are welcomed with basic supplies. In the meantime, the U.S. Treasury Department has released plans to tackle the illicit finance risks associated with organized crime. Among other things, the recent invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the need for more stringent regulations.
