Venezuelan lawmakers move to pull country out of International Criminal Court

Venezuela’s parliament took a major step on Thursday toward breaking ties with the International Criminal Court, approving the repeal of the law that originally confirmed the country’s membership in the ICC. The vote was unanimous. Lawmakers aligned with President Nicolas Maduro said the measure will take immediate effect once Maduro signs it, according to Reuters.

Clash deepens as ICC probes alleged abuses

Jorge Rodriguez, who leads the ruling party’s national assembly and is one of Maduro’s closest political allies, told lawmakers that scrapping the law sends a message that the court serves foreign interests. He accused the ICC of acting on behalf of what he called North American imperialism.

Tensions with the court have grown since 2020, when then-ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said evidence pointed to crimes against humanity committed by Venezuelan security forces starting in 2017. That announcement came after a period of intense protests that left more than 120 people dead. Human rights organizations and opposition groups said authorities detained demonstrators arbitrarily, tortured detainees and used excessive force to silence unrest.

The ICC opened a formal investigation in 2021. Since then, the Maduro government has resisted cooperating, prompting the court to close its Caracas office this year. The office had opened in mid-2023 to monitor local judicial reforms, but the ICC said it saw no meaningful progress.

Venezuela joined the ICC in 2000 after signing the 1998 Rome Statute. Leaving the court requires a formal notification, which Maduro is expected to deliver once the repeal becomes law. The move could complicate efforts to hold Venezuelan officials accountable for alleged abuses, even as international pressure continues to mount.