On May 20, the Hungarian parliament adopted a draft law that starts the year-long process of the country’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government said the court had become “political”. informsReuters agency.
“Hungary strongly rejects the use of international organizations – in particular, criminal courts – as instruments of political influence”, – says the bill submitted by Deputy Prime Minister Zholt Shemien.
The draft law was supported by 134 votes “for” and 37 “against”.
Hungary, which is one of the founding countries of the ICC, ratified the Rome Statute in 2001. The court was established more than two decades ago to prosecute those accused of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.
The Hungarian government announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court after the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Budapest, despite the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant. Hungary criticized the warrant, calling it “brazen” and refused to comply with the arrest request.
We will remind that on April 3, the Orbán government announced its intention to start the procedure of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court. In response to this decision, the Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties to the ISS expressed concern.
