EU country decides to withdraw from ICC
Hungary’s National Assembly has approved a bill to exit the International Criminal Court, as announced by Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who characterized the institution as biased and discredited. The decision received a more than two-thirds...
TroibNews 
Hungary’s National Assembly has approved a bill to exit the International Criminal Court, as announced by Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who characterized the institution as biased and discredited.
The decision received a more than two-thirds majority during a vote on Tuesday.
“The Hungarian Parliament just voted to withdraw from the @IntlCrimCourt. With this decision, we refuse to be part of a politicized institution that has lost its impartiality and credibility,” Szijjarto stated on X.
Earlier this month, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban criticized the ICC, claiming it had lost its impartiality and had become a “political tribunal.” He expressed his intentions to cease Budapest's participation during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hungary.
Last November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, along with three members of the Hamas leadership, alleging their involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on the ICC and its chief prosecutor Karim Khan for pursuing top Israeli officials. The U.S. is not a party to the Rome Statute, the ICC’s founding treaty, and neither are countries like China, Russia, and Israel.
In March 2023, the ICC took similar action, issuing arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova concerning alleged unlawful deportation and transfer of children from former Ukrainian territories. Moscow dismissed the order as “null and void,” claiming the children were evacuated for their safety and could be returned to legal guardians upon request.
The ICC lacks enforcement capabilities for its warrants, relying on member states to detain and transfer suspects.
Hungary's withdrawal will require notification to the UN Secretary-General and will take effect one year later. Until that time, Hungary is still obligated to cooperate with the ICC as per the terms of the Rome Statute.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
The decision received a more than two-thirds majority during a vote on Tuesday.
“The Hungarian Parliament just voted to withdraw from the @IntlCrimCourt. With this decision, we refuse to be part of a politicized institution that has lost its impartiality and credibility,” Szijjarto stated on X.
Earlier this month, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban criticized the ICC, claiming it had lost its impartiality and had become a “political tribunal.” He expressed his intentions to cease Budapest's participation during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Hungary.
Last November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, along with three members of the Hamas leadership, alleging their involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on the ICC and its chief prosecutor Karim Khan for pursuing top Israeli officials. The U.S. is not a party to the Rome Statute, the ICC’s founding treaty, and neither are countries like China, Russia, and Israel.
In March 2023, the ICC took similar action, issuing arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova concerning alleged unlawful deportation and transfer of children from former Ukrainian territories. Moscow dismissed the order as “null and void,” claiming the children were evacuated for their safety and could be returned to legal guardians upon request.
The ICC lacks enforcement capabilities for its warrants, relying on member states to detain and transfer suspects.
Hungary's withdrawal will require notification to the UN Secretary-General and will take effect one year later. Until that time, Hungary is still obligated to cooperate with the ICC as per the terms of the Rome Statute.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
