Moscow slams ICC over suspended prosecutor controversy, demands clarity

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has criticised the situation surrounding the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its suspended chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, following reports of disciplinary proceedings against him.

Commenting on the case, Zakharova said the prosecutor has been placed on temporary leave over allegations of sexual misconduct, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

“Right now there is a wonderful piece of news that the chief prosecutor of the so-called International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, has been temporarily suspended from his post due to suspicion of sexual harassment,” the diplomat said. “Let me just remind you that since May 2025, he has already not been performing his duties for a year due to a forced recusal.”

Zakharova noted that Karim Khan “issues arrest warrants for heads of state who are not members of this structure.” “And he has also recused himself. And now you are ‘temporarily suspending’ him. And all of this lasts for months and years because you cannot figure out whether this person is fit or unfit,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

“Where are we at all? What stop on the Milky Way are we on right now? What is it called? How is this possible?” she added.

One day earlier, on June 9, the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court suspended Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from office pending a final decision in disciplinary proceedings related to allegations of sexual harassment.

By Jeyhun Aghazada