Vladimir Putin is withdrawing Russia from the International Criminal Court

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to withdraw Russia from the International Criminal Court, which rules on such grave charges as genocide and crimes against humanity.

Putin's decree, published Wednesday on the Kremlin's website, comes a day after the U.N. General Assembly's human rights committee approved a resolution condemning Russia's "temporary occupation of Crimea" and condemned Russia for rights abuses such as discrimination against some Crimeans.

Russia annexed Crimea in March 2014 from Ukraine following a hastily called referendum, a move that led to crippling Western sanctions. A pro-Russia insurgency erupted in eastern Ukraine the following month, backed by Russia.

Putin in 2000 signed the Rome treaty that established the Hague-based court but never ratified it.

"The Court failed to meet the expectations to become a truly independent, authoritative international tribunal," a Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement read.

The statement went on to say that the ICC's work is "ineffective and one-sided," citing the court's handling of the 2008 Russia-Georgia conflict.

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