The European Union Monday deplored the criminal proceedings initiated by Russian authorities against the Prosecutor Karim Khan and three Judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“Any Russian acts against the ICC’s mandate and attempts to intimidate those involved in the ICC’s investigation of international crimes committed in Ukraine are politically motivated, baseless, unjustified and unacceptable” said EU High Representative Josep Borrell in a statement.
He reaffirmed the 27-member bloc’s full support for the ICC, as an independent and impartial judicial institution entrusted by over 120 States from all regions of the world, to ensure accountability for the gravest crimes.
“We stand firmly by the Court and remain committed to defending its personnel from any outside interference aimed at obstructing the course of justice and undermining the international system of criminal justice,” stressed the EU foreign policy chief.
According to media reports, Moscow last Friday issued an arrest warrant for the ICC prosecutor who in March prepared a warrant for the arrest of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on war crimes charges.
Karim Khan was added to the Russian Interior Ministry’s wanted list, said the reports.
Source: Kuwait News Agency