France condemned all forms of threats and coercive measures targeting the International Criminal Court, following Washington's imposition of sanctions on the court's president, Japanese judge Tomoko Akane, and another official.
The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Paris had taken note of the United States' decision to impose new sanctions on Akane, a member of the court's prosecution office. She noted that the new sanctions are in addition to similar measures that have already affected 11 judges in the court.
The ministry added: "France condemns all forms of threats and coercive measures targeting the court, its staff, and the civil society organizations that support it."
She continued: "Such measures constitute a violation of the Court's rights and the rights of all 125 States Parties to the Rome Statute, and are contrary to the principle of judicial independence," expressing Paris's solidarity with the targeted judges.
She stressed that the court has a "vital role in combating impunity".
The French Foreign Ministry affirmed that Paris "is working to enable the court to continue its tasks with independence and impartiality, in order to ensure justice for the victims of the most serious crimes."
The US Treasury Department announced last Tuesday that it was imposing sanctions on the court’s president, Tomoko Akane, and chief prosecutor Abdullah Sy, while allowing financial transactions with them until September 17.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the sanctions were imposed on them for their alleged involvement in the court's "abuses," including attempts to conduct investigations and arrest officials from countries not subject to its jurisdiction.
These sanctions come as part of an ongoing US campaign against the court, with Washington having previously imposed sanctions on nine judges and prosecutors, and describing the court as a "threat to national security" and a "tool of legal warfare" against the United States and Israel.
The International Criminal Court condemned the US decision, stressing that it would continue to "do justice" in the world, and described the sanctions as "a blatant attack on the independence of an impartial judicial body," while the United Nations expressed its deep concern over what it described as "retaliatory measures" against international institutions.
