What drove Venezuela’s decision to leave the ICC?
Summary
Venezuela has officially told the United Nations it is leaving the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the court of unfairly targeting countries in Africa and Latin America. The ICC can still investigate alleged crimes in Venezuela for one year after the withdrawal notice, and ongoing cases will continue despite the decision.Key Facts
- Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia announced the country’s withdrawal from the ICC’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute.
- The decision was ordered by Interim President Delcy Rodriguez and described as final.
- Venezuela claims the ICC has shown bias by focusing mostly on African and Latin American countries.
- The United States praised Venezuela’s exit from the ICC and urged other countries to leave as well.
- The ICC has been investigating alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela since 2021, related to protests from 2017.
- Withdrawal from the ICC will take one year to become official and does not stop current investigations or cases.
- Critics say the ICC now investigates leaders from many regions, including Russia and Israel, challenging claims of bias.
- The ICC closed its office in Venezuela in 2023 due to lack of cooperation from local authorities.
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