ICC president: Court is not an 'enemy of any country' after U.S. sanctions

The president of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Tomoko Akane, asserted that the tribunal "is not an institution enemy of any country or regime." She made these remarks defending the court's independence following new sanctions imposed by the United States against several judges and prosecutors, including herself.

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We are not an institution enemy of any country or regime; we are a court whose function is to prosecute and judge those responsible for the world's most serious crimes. Therefore, I want to make it clear that we do not act in opposition to any government.

Akane clarified that the ICC's role is to prosecute those responsible for the world's most serious crimes, emphasizing, "we do not act in opposition to any government." She stated that the ICC's response to the U.S. measures, which included rejecting the sanctions, should not be seen as a specific confrontation with the Trump administration but rather as a defense of the court's independence against external pressure.

Beyond the U.S. sanctions, Akane also faces a Russian arrest warrant and a conviction in absentia related to the 2023 arrest warrant issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin concerning the alleged illegal deportation of Ukrainian minors. These circumstances, she noted, require her to dedicate significant time and effort to personal security.

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the independence of the court in the face of any attempt at external pressure.

Akane strongly refuted the U.S. allegations that the ICC is a "political and corrupt organization that uses international law to strip sovereignty" from other countries, calling such claims "absolutely false." She explained that the court investigates and prosecutes high-ranking officials suspected of the most serious international crimes in a "neutral and impartial" manner, adhering strictly to the conditions set by the Rome Statute.

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absolutely false

She also dismissed the notion that the U.S. sanctions were a response to an ongoing investigation targeting American citizens, suggesting Washington was invoking a "distant threat" related to an investigation into alleged crimes in Afghanistan. Akane appealed to the Japanese government to maintain its support for the ICC and leverage its close relationship with the U.S. to advocate for the tribunal's importance and legitimacy.

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neutral and impartial