- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Russian Envoy: ICC Won't Revive Reputation After Dropping US War Crimes Probe

© AFP 2023 / Martijn BeekmanThis file photo taken on November 23, 2015 shows the building of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, The Netherlands
This file photo taken on November 23, 2015 shows the building of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, The Netherlands - Sputnik International
Subscribe
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - Moscow doubts that the ICC will be able to restore its reputation in light of the court's recent decision to drop a probe into allegations of US war crimes in Afghanistan, Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Gennady Kuzmin said during a UN Security Council meeting on Libya.

On 12 April, the International Criminal Court (ICC) dropped a probe into possible US war crimes in Afghanistan just weeks after Trump administration officials threatened to sanction and prosecute ICC judges. The ICC chamber argued that because Washington is unlikely to cooperate, a probe would not serve the "interests of justice", despite the evidence that war crimes had likely been committed.

"For those who still naively believe in the shining image of the ICC as a champion of justice, I would recommend that you look at the decision of the judges from the 12th of April this year […] My fear that after such an elegant verdict describing the ‘interests of justice’ as the ICC understands it, it will never be able to restore its reputation. With this judicial policy the investigation in respect of Libya will hardly be able to achieve any credible results", Kuzmin said on Wednesday.

READ MORE: Sudan's Civilian Gov't to Decide If Bashir to Be Handed Over to ICC – Council

Earlier, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told the UNSC that the ICC may explore cases of violence against migrants in Libya. Bensouda’s appearance at UN headquarters in New York was noteworthy amid concerns of her ability to enter the country after the State Department revoked her visa in early April.

US soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, fire mortars at known enemy firing positions from a base in the Pech River Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar province, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009. - Sputnik International
Trump Hails IСС Refusal to Probe US for War Crimes in Afghanistan
Kuzmin said the ICC will likely prioritize the "interests of justice" in its investigations in Libya over the interests of victims and the severity of crimes.

In particular, Kuzmin said that the Court has now the right to not begin an investigation if it has doubts about the viability of a probe, given the lack of cooperation of interested parties and the pressure of sanctioning against the ICC members.

Additionally, the ICC may not start an investigation if it experiences budget shortages, Kuzmin said.

"Each year the ICC becomes an ever less significant factor on the international arena. There is no momentum in its investigations, no results", Kuzmin added.

READ MORE: Damascus Accuses US and Its Allies of War Crimes in Syria

In April, the ICC rejected a request by Bensouda to launch an inquiry into allegations of war crimes committed by the US military in Afghanistan after the announcement by Washington in March to utilize economic sanctions and visa restrictions against ICC officials for recommending such an investigation. The crimes were related to US military and intelligence personnel’s activities inside Afghanistan and CIA-run black sites in Europe since 2003.

US. army soldiers stand next a military vehicle in the town of Bartella, east of Mosul, Iraq, December 27, 2016 - Sputnik International
Decorated US Navy SEAL Under Investigation for Committing War Crimes in Iraq
Earlier in April, Bensouda’s Office confirmed that her visa to enter the United States had been revoked. However, the prosecutor was able to come to UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday to brief the Security Council on the situation in Libya under an agreement between the United States and the UN.

The ICC received more than 1 million statements from Afghans who say they were victims of war crimes at the hands of the Taliban, Afghan forces, terrorists, warlords, and international forces including US personnel, several media outlets reported last February.

READ MORE: Secret Inquiry: Australia's SAS Soldiers Questioned Over Alleged War Crimes

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала