The president of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Tomoko Akane, warned on Monday that continued attacks on the court, particularly from the United States and Russia, threaten its very existence. Speaking at an annual ICC conference in The Hague, Akane condemned the “coercive measures, threats, pressure, and acts of sabotage” aimed at undermining the court’s authority. While she did not directly name the countries involved, her remarks referred to criticisms from both powers after the ICC issued arrest warrants for officials from Israel and Russia.
Akane particularly highlighted the threats of economic sanctions from the U.S. in response to the court’s actions, including arrest warrants for Israeli leaders accused of war crimes in Gaza. She also criticized Russia’s retaliatory actions after the court issued warrants for President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
These ongoing attacks, Akane said, risk eroding the court’s ability to uphold international law and deliver justice, particularly for victims of war crimes and human rights violations. She emphasized that without the ICC, the rule of law in the international community would collapse, making justice unattainable for many. Despite the pressures, Akane reaffirmed the ICC’s commitment to its mission of prosecuting war crimes and crimes against humanity, and rejected any attempts to influence its impartiality.
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