Written by Anthony Deutsch
THE HAGUE – The head of the International Criminal Court said Monday that the threats facing the agency, including U.S. sanctions and the possibility of Russian warrants against its staff, “endanger its very existence.”
Speaking at the tribunal’s annual conference of 124 members, Chief Justice Tomoko Akane did not mention Russia or the United States by name, but referred to them as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
Two months after a court in The Hague issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia has issued an arrest warrant for Karim Khan, the ICC’s chief prosecutor.
In June, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill authorizing the courts to respond to Khan’s request for arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant.
“The Court is subject to attacks – coercive measures, intimidation, pressure and obstruction – that seek to undermine its legitimacy and ability to administer justice and realize international law and fundamental rights,” Akane said. said the employee, adding that more warrants have been issued to the court.
The ICC has also been “threatened by another permanent member of the Security Council to impose severe economic sanctions as if it were a terrorist organization. “It would rapidly undermine and jeopardize the very existence of the ICC,” she said. Said.
Although the United States is not a member of the court, the world’s preeminent military and financial power could weaken the ICC diplomatically, politically, and with financial sanctions targeting its staff.
He said the court “categorically rejects any attempt to affect our independence and impartiality. We firmly reject any attempt to politicize our functions; we have always… And from now on, we will only abide by the law under any circumstances.”
The court was established in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and crimes of aggression when member states are unwilling or unable to do so themselves.
Crimes committed by nationals of Member States or crimes committed by other actors on the territory of Member States may be prosecuted. The budget for 2024 was approximately 187 million euros.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to the text.
