The Attorney General of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, announced – today, Friday, to be temporarily stepped with the end of an investigation by United Nations investigators in charges of sexual misconduct.
There is no precedent for this step, in a position to exacerbate the ambiguity experienced by the International Criminal Court, which is already facing an existential crisis due to US sanctions after arrest warrants issued against Israeli officials.
Khan’s office said it took a vacation until the end of the United Nations Internal Supervision Office.
Khan denied the allegations of misconduct that was submitted in October last year to the Office of the Association of States parties, which is the administrative and legislative supervisory body of the court.
In a letter to his employees, the public prosecutor said he was putting his position under continuous review. “In light of the increasing media reports, I made a deliberate decision to obtain a leave,” he added.
He explained, “My decision is paid in a deep and constant commitment to the credibility of our office and the court, and to ensure the integrity of the process and fairness to all those who are included in the matter,” he said.
Khan had previously ignored the invitations of NGOs and international criminal court employees to step down during the progress of the investigation.
Praise
Some of these non -governmental organizations praised his decision to temporarily step down, considering that it is evidence that no one is above the law.
“The step down contributes to protecting the credibility of the court and the confidence of the victims, employees and the public. For those who believe they are victims and those informed of violations, this is also a moment of appreciation and dignity,” said Dania Chaikal of the International Human Rights Federation.
Others said that the suspension of Khan’s work would not obstruct the investigations of the International Criminal Court, because the prosecutor’s office is not an individual act.
High -level investigations are being held in the possibility of war crimes in the war launched by Israel on the Gaza Strip and the Russian war on Ukraine.
At the request of Khan, the International Criminal Court issued arrest orders against Russian President Vladimir Putin on suspicion of deporting children from Ukraine, and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on suspicion of war crimes in Gaza. And both countries are not a member of the court, both of them denied these accusations and are pushing the un jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
The International Criminal Court’s investigation into Israel’s behavior prompted the administration of US President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Khan, the President of the International Criminal Court says that it endangers the same court.
Sources stipulated not to be mentioned by name told Reuters that Khan spoke to United Nations investigators last week in what is believed to be the last interview of an external investigation that started in December.
It is not clear yet the end of the investigation.
Khan’s office said that the Deputy Prosecutors of the International Criminal Court will take over his duties in the meantime.