Venezuela announces definitive withdrawal from International Criminal Court, citing "bias"

Venezuela has declared its "firm and irrevocable" intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), formally denouncing the Rome Statute. The Venezuelan government, through its Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia, stated that the ICC operates with a "bias," disproportionately focusing its efforts on African and Latin American countries. This alleged bias, the statement suggests, instrumentalizes international justice to deepen inequalities and undermine national sovereignty.

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This pattern reveals an international justice that, far from being applied equitably, has been instrumentalized to deepen inequalities between peoples and disregard their right to self-determination and sovereignty.

Plasencia further asserted that the ICC's perceived bias is not coincidental but reflects an institution serving interests beyond justice. He condemned this as "lawfare," which he claims perpetuates persecution against the Venezuelan people. The announcement was made via a statement published on X and communicated to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, as ordered by acting president Delcy Rodríguez.

The decision aligns with a move made in December by the Venezuelan parliament, controlled by the ruling party, which unanimously approved a law repealing the country's adherence to the Rome Statute. At the time, the president of the legislature, Jorge Rodríguez, stated the intention was to "denounce to the world the futility and vassalage" of the ICC.

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Therefore, we reject this dimension of lawfare, which perpetuates persecution against the Venezuelan people and exacerbates the inequalities that international justice should correct.

This withdrawal follows the ICC Prosecutor's Office announcement on December 1st of the closure of its technical office in Caracas. The ICC cited a lack of "real progress" with Venezuela on the principle of "complementarity," which requires the host country to investigate alleged crimes before the ICC intervenes. Despite closing its Caracas office, the ICC stated that its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela remains active and is being handled by a team in The Hague.

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denounce to the world the futility and vassalage of the ICC.