#IAmPutin

Abstract This article examines how the Russian government engages in authoritarian legitimation by resisting the International Criminal Court (ICC) during its investigation into the situation in Ukraine. Authoritarian legitimation is conceptualized as the strategic use of rhetorical and legal mechanisms to justify state authority and consolidate domestic support for the regime’s policies. Drawing on a qualitative analysis of Russian-language media, with a particular focus on statements by the Russian political leadership shared via social media channels, this article examines how rhetorical strategies are utilized to defy and challenge the ICC. Additionally, the article examines the mechanisms of legal legitimation, highlighting how the Russian government has leveraged domestic legislation to avoid cooperation with the Court. By situating these strategies within a broader framework of authoritarian legitimation, the article offers a deeper understanding of how law, politics and popular rhetoric are intertwined to allow the exploitation of gaps in global accountability mechanisms and the reinforcement of authoritarian resilience.