ICC president criticizes US and Russia for interference in investigations

The president of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Tomoko Akane, criticized the U.S. and Russia for interfering with its investigations. She condemned threats of sanctions from U.S. officials following the court's decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. The ICC faces challenges in enforcing these warrants, as many member states have shown reluctance to act. This situation contrasts with the strong support for the arrest warrant issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin last year. Additionally, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan is under scrutiny due to allegations of misconduct. An external investigation into these claims will be launched, but it remains unclear if this will be addressed during the ICC's annual meeting.