“Immediate measures were adopted to respond to this cybersecurity incident and to mitigate its impact,” it said on Tuesday…reports Asian Lite News
The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague fell victim to a cyberattack last week, the ICC has announced.
“At the end of last week, the International Criminal Court’s services detected anomalous activity affecting its information systems,” the ICC said.
“Immediate measures were adopted to respond to this cyber security incident and to mitigate its impact,” it said on Tuesday.
The ICC gives no further details on the attack, whether and what documents could have been taken, or who could be behind the attack. Assisted by authorities in the Netherlands, an investigation was started and additional security measures have already been taken.
“As the court continues to analyze and mitigate the impact of this incident, priority is also being given to ensuring that the core work of the court continues,” the ICC added.
“Looking forward, the court will be building on existing work presently underway to strengthen its cyber security framework, including accelerating its use of cloud technology,” it said.
According to ICC Prosecutor, the preliminary examination of the situation showed that alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine….reports Asian Lite News
The International Criminal Court (ICC) will launch an investigation into the situation in Ukraine ‘as rapidly as possible,’ said ICC Prosecutor, Karim Khan on Monday.
“Today, I wish to announce that I have decided to proceed with opening an investigation into the situation in Ukraine, as rapidly as possible… I have reviewed the Office’s conclusions arising from the preliminary examination of the situation in Ukraine, and have confirmed that there is a reasonable basis to proceed with opening an investigation,” the ICC statement read.
According to ICC Prosecutor, the preliminary examination of the situation showed that alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine.
“I am satisfied that there is a reasonable basis to believe that both alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine in relation to the events already assessed during the preliminary examination by the Office. Given the expansion of the conflict in recent days, it is my intention that this investigation will also encompass any new alleged crimes falling within the jurisdiction of my Office that are committed by any party to the conflict on any part of the territory of Ukraine,” the statement read.
:The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine has published pictures of the border service facilities in the Kyiv region that were shot by Russian troops on Thursday Feb. 24, 2022 not long after Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine.(Photo:IANS/Twitter)
The prosecutor added that he has already tasked a team to explore all available evidence and now is seeking authorization from the Court’s Pre-Trial Chamber to start the investigation.
Khan noted that he will call for support from the international community and additional financial and voluntary aid in order to proceed with the investigation.
Russia last week launched the special military operation in Ukraine which has led to an increase in tensions in the region. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the operation was launched to protect the residents in the eastern part of Ukraine. (ANI)
The Trump-era executive order against certain persons of the International Criminal Court has been revoked, ending the threat and imposition of economic sanctions and visa restrictions in connection with the court, reports Asian Lite News
The US has lifted sanctions against senior officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which were imposed by the administration of former President Donald Trump.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Friday that President Joe Biden had revoked an executive order against certain persons of the ICC, ending the threat and imposition of economic sanctions and visa restrictions in connection with the court.
“As a result, the sanctions imposed by the previous administration against ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and Phakiso Mochochoko, the Head of the Jurisdiction, Complementarity and Cooperation Division of the Office of the Prosecutor, have been lifted,” he said.
The Department of State also terminated a separate 2019 policy on visa restrictions on certain ICC personnel, Blinkem added.
Former US President Donald Trump (IANS)
“These decisions reflect our assessment that the measures adopted were inappropriate and ineffective.”
Blinken, however, highlighted the disagreement between Washington and The Hague-based international tribunal.
“We continue to disagree strongly with the ICC’s actions relating to the Afghanistan and Palestinian situations. We maintain our longstanding objection to the Court’s efforts to assert jurisdiction over personnel of non-States Parties such as the United States and Israel,” he noted.
The US has not ratified the Rome Statute of the ICC and rejected the the Court’s jurisdiction over American persons.
The ICC in March 2020 authorised an investigation into possible war crimes in Afghanistan, including those that may have been committed by the American military and the CIA, which could lead to the indictment of US Army and intelligence personnel.
The ICC in March 2020 authorised an investigation into possible war crimes in Afghanistan, including those that may have been committed by the American military and the CIA.
In June 2020, Trump authorised economic sanctions against ICC officials engaged in an investigation into US personnel, which drew criticism from the international community and some American allies.
The ICC was established when the Rome Statute took effect in 2002.
It prosecutes crimes of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.
