Hungary confirms intention to withdraw from ICC amid Netanyahu's visit
Photo: Hungarian Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Gergely Gulyás (infopost.media)
Today, April 3, the Hungarian government is initiating the country's exit from the International Criminal Court (ICC), as the organization has “moved away from its original purpose,” says Hungarian Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Gergely Gulyás, as quoted by Index.
According to Gulyás, the ICC was a “respectable initiative,” but recently the organization has become a “political body,” and the charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are “the saddest example of this.”
He added that Hungary is allegedly in a unique situation, as its parliament has never proclaimed the ICC statute, and therefore the country is not part of its legislation. Because of this, Budapest is allegedly not obliged to arrest anyone based on a warrant issued by the organization.
Hungary's withdrawal from the ICC
Yesterday, April 2, media reported with reference to the Minister of Justice of Hungary, Bence Tuzson, that the country intends to withdraw from the ICC. The process may take about a year.
Netanyahu arrived in Hungary today. His visit took place despite an arrest warrant issued by the ICC.
In March, Budapest also claimed that it would not arrest Russian president Vladimir Putin if he came to the country, as the warrant for him was allegedly a “not very good” decision of the ICC.
