EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini announced on Thursday 17 November that she regretted the Russian Federation’s decision to withdraw its signature from and not become a member of the Statute of Rome establishing the International Criminal Court (ICC), following the signing by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, of a decree to this effect on 16 November.
Russia signed the Statute of Rome on 13 September 2000 and "the European Union has consistently urged Russia to ratify it, considering Russia's special responsibility for upholding accountability for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole in its capacity as a permanent member of the UN Security Council", Mogherini said.
She added that the EU "remains a staunch supporter of the ICC and is committed to full co-operation on the prevention of serious crimes falling under the jurisdiction of the Court, which is a key institution to assist citizens achieve justice when confronted with the most serious crimes, where this is not possible at the national level".
Russia accuses the ICC of not being truly independent or having authority in international justice, failing to meet the hopes placed in it.
Russia’s withdrawal from the ICC follows the announcement by three African countries (South Africa, Burundi and Gambia) of their withdrawal from the court (see EUROPE 11653). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)