Overview
- Venezuela told the United Nations on Friday that it is denouncing the Rome Statute and beginning a formal withdrawal process under Article 127.
- The Assembly of States Parties held a closed vote and removed chief prosecutor Karim Khan, with reports saying 82 of 125 states supported the dismissal and Khan has pledged to challenge the decision in court.
- Under Article 127 the denunciation takes effect one year after notification so Venezuela remains obliged to cooperate and ongoing ICC investigations and procedures continue during that period.
- Reactions split sharply: the U.S. State Department publicly welcomed Venezuela’s move and urged other states to leave the court, while rights groups and UN officials stressed the need to protect due process and the integrity of ongoing probes.
- The court must now manage immediate succession and case-management choices that will shape who leads prosecutions, how active investigations proceed and how victims and witnesses are served going forward.