French President Francois Hollande has suggested Russia could face war crimes charges over its bombardment of Syria’s second city Aleppo.
Mr Hollande told French TV this could take place in the International Criminal Court (ICC).
He also said he might refuse to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is due to visit France next week.
Last week Russia vetoed a Franco-Spanish UN Security Council resolution calling for an end to the bombing.
Moscow has repeatedly denied attacking civilians, and said it targets terrorist groups in Syria.
Neither Russia nor Syria is a member of the International Criminal Court.
Life under siege in rebel-held Aleppo
The seven-year-old tweeting from Aleppo
How Moscow’s Syria campaign has paid off
Aleppo remains thorn in government’s side
Aleppo: Key battleground in Syria’s war
“These are people who today are the victims of war crimes. Those that commit these acts will have to face up to their responsibility, including in the ICC,” Mr Hollande told TMC.
“If I do receive him [Mr Putin], I will tell him that it is unacceptable. It could also seriously affect Russia’s image,” the French president added.
Mr Hollande’s call for Russia to be prosecuted came as Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said France was working to find a way for the ICC prosecutor to launch an investigation into attacks on rebel-held eastern Aleppo.
Last week US Secretary of State John Kerry also called for war crimes charges, saying Russian and Syrian government attacks on hospitals were “beyond the accidental” and part of a deliberate strategy.
What is the International Criminal Court?
Image copyright ICC
It is designed to prosecute and bring to justice those responsible for the worst crimes – genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
So far only African defendants have been put on trial.
A number of important countries seem determined not to submit to its jurisdiction of the ICC. Some have not even signed the treaty, such as the US, China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Turkey.
Others, including Egypt, Iran, Israel and Russia, have signed but remain dubious and have not ratified.
It is unlikely that alleged crimes against humanity in those states will be prosecuted.
Read more: What does the International Criminal Court do?
