Russian war crimes investigation only exposes the cowardice of the ICC | The Guardian Letters |

The International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and his commissioner for children's rights (ICC judges issue arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes, 17 March) represent an important milestone in demonstrating to the world how irrelevant, compromised and cowardly the ICC is.

Rather than being a beacon of international justice without favour or prejudice [Rome Statute], it seems that it prefers currying favour among its western sponsors and backers instead of casting the light of justice over the egregious war crimes and crimes against humanity that the US-led west has committed over the years.

The destruction of Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria come to mind, coupled with the illegal and criminal economic war of sanctions against Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Iran, Afghanistan etc, where the aim is to try to destroy these countries' economies and starve the people into bringing about a change of regime.

A more fitting description to go with its acronym is international court of cowardice.

Russell Caplan
Wood Green, London