The US has imposed sanctions on four judges and prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which previously issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, informs the US Department of State.

According to the State Department, the decision was made because the ICC’s efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute a person under protection, without the consent of that person’s country of citizenship, are considered malicious actions.

Specifically, the sanctions target two judges and two deputy prosecutors of the ICC: One judge is sanctioned for allowing the International Criminal Court to investigate the activities of US personnel in Afghanistan, and three others are sanctioned for their role in issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The sanctions include freezing and blocking all assets of these individuals in the US. US residents are also prohibited from conducting any transactions with the foreign assets of the sanctioned individuals or providing them with any services.

The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the deportation of Ukrainian children.