US imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court president

US imposed sanctions on the president of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Tomoko Akane. This was reported on August 18 by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the decision was also published by the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Rubio said the US administration continues to increase pressure on the International Criminal Court. According to Washington, the ICC is exceeding its authority by trying to investigate and prosecute officials of states that have not consented to the court's jurisdiction.

The Secretary of State accused ICC leadership of participating in actions aimed at investigating, arresting, or prosecuting officials of countries whose governments do not recognize the relevant jurisdiction of the court.

The name of Tomoko Akane was added to the OFAC sanctions list. Such restrictions involve blocking assets subject to US jurisdiction of the sanctioned person and restrictions on financial and other transactions involving him for US citizens and companies.

US increases pressure on ICC

The new sanctions are a continuation of Washington's conflict with the International Criminal Court. The US is not a party to the Rome Statute, under which the ICC operates, and has repeatedly opposed extending its jurisdiction to American citizens.

The confrontation intensified especially sharply due to the court's actions regarding Israel. The US administration opposes ICC investigations and judicial decisions affecting Israeli officials, stating that Israel is also not a party to the Rome Statute.

Earlier, the US had already imposed sanctions on prosecutors and judges of the International Criminal Court. Washington justified these measures by the need to protect American citizens and allies from what the administration considers improper actions by the ICC.

ICC investigates crimes in Ukraine

For Ukraine, the International Criminal Court is of particular importance. The situation in Ukraine was opened in March 2022 and covers alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and other crimes falling under ICC jurisdiction.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Russian children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova in the case of illegal deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children. Later, the court also issued warrants for other high-ranking Russian military and officials.

Tomoko Akane is a Japanese judge and the current president of the International Criminal Court. She has repeatedly spoken out against pressure and sanctions against court officials, emphasizing the need to preserve its independence.

Source: Marco Rubio, OFAC