ICC launches investigation into former chief prosecutor Karim Khan

Lawyers representing Karim Khan, the International Criminal Court’s former chief prosecutor, have denounced his removal as a “political witch‑hunt.” The legal team issued a statement shortly after the ICC’s judges voted to suspend Khan pending a formal investigation into alleged misconduct, asserting that the proceedings are driven by external political pressures rather than legitimate concerns about the prosecutor’s conduct.

The court’s decision to suspend Khan follows accusations that he failed to disclose certain communications and mismanaged the office’s budget, charges the prosecutor’s office has called “unfounded.” In response, Khan’s counsel emphasized that the investigation lacks transparency and threatens the independence of the ICC. The ICC has not yet provided a detailed timeline for the inquiry, and the matter is expected to be examined further in an upcoming hearing, where both the prosecutor’s representatives and the court will present their arguments.