international sanctions laws-of-war official-immunity diplomatic-immunity
Why there are no sanctions against head of state if his/her country violates the International law by performing illegitimate acts of war?
<p>Assume that there is head of state that is elected in elections that are fully recognized in his/her country and that is at least partially recognized as a elected head of state by other countries and to whom (notwithstanding previous disputes) the other countries have conferred the full diplomatic privileges that are associated with his/her status as a legitimate head of state.</p>
<p>Assume that this head of state takes decision to perform act of war against the other sovereign country and this act of war therefore violates the International law.</p>
<p>Assume that other countries issue financial, economic personal sanctions against some persons of the country which performed acts of war.</p>
<p>My question is - why there are never the sanctions against this head of state (decision maker) but why the sanctions are directed only towards the lesser functionaries? I have heard that the his/her status of diplomat provides the full immunity against such sanctions, but - I can not understand - whether or not the diplomatic immunity and privileges are preserved when his/her orders violates the International law?</p>
<p>And in what cases (what laws additionally should be breached) the head of state is subject not only to the personal financial sanctions but he/she can be made captive (prisoner) and tried in the court or outright executed without trial?</p>

<h2>Your question is based on an incorrect premise</h2>
<p>Heads of State can be and have been held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity.</p>
<p>For example:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_trials" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Germany</a></li>
<li><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Military_Tribunal_for_the_Far_East" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Japan</a></li>
<li><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Criminal_Tribunal_for_the_former_Yugoslavia" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Yugoslavia</a></li>
<li><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Criminal_Tribunal_for_Rwanda" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Rwanda</a></li>
</ul>
