The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the chavista Karim Khan, has been suspended from his duties amid an institutional process that could lead to his permanent removal.
The decision comes after an internal investigation related to allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct made by a member of his own team.
The measure was adopted by the executive body of the Assembly of States Parties, responsible for overseeing the administrative functioning of the court based in The Hague.
Karim Khan
In this context, it was decided to temporarily remove the official while the member countries analyze the case and define the next steps in a special session.
According to the official statement, the suspension is already in effect and will remain until a final resolution is reached.
“The bureau decided by qualified majority to suspend the prosecutor from his duties with immediate effect until the final decision of the Assembly of States Parties,” the body indicated. It was also clarified that “this suspension does not constitute an indication of the final outcome of the procedure.”
The process originated from allegations made by a lawyer who worked in the prosecutor's office, leading to an investigation that lasted approximately eighteen months.
Karim Khan
During that period, alleged misconduct in the workplace was analyzed, which now leads to a broader disciplinary instance.
According to diplomatic sources familiar with the case, the investigation concluded with findings that led the supervisory body to consider that there were sufficient elements to proceed with a formal procedure against Khan.
Karim Khan and his controversies
The 55-year-old lawyer had gained global visibility since his appointment in 2021 as chief prosecutor of the ICC, where he promoted investigations into alleged war crimes and human rights violations in various regions, with a marked ideological bias and ignoring the crimes of leftist regimes around the world.
One of the most controversial cases of his management was related to the war against the terrorist group Hamas in Gaza. Under his leadership, the prosecution issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
This decision placed Khan at the center of high-level diplomatic tensions, especially with the United States, which harshly criticized the Court's actions and sanctioned officials related to the tribunal.
