ICC suspends prosecutor who sought Putin's arrest warrant
Photo: Karim Khan, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (Getty Images)
The International Criminal Court has suspended Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from his duties. He was the one who secured an arrest warrant for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Why Karim Khan was removed
During the ICC meeting on June 8, a decision was made to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the prosecutor.
The case against Karim Khan will be referred to a special session of the Court’s member states to determine the employee’s future.
The Committee of 21 member states decided by a majority vote that Khan had committed a serious offense due to allegations of sexual harassment.
"The decision of the Bureau and the related documentation will remain confidential. The Bureau continues to call for due respect for the privacy and the rights of all parties concerned, as well as for the integrity of the ongoing process," the ICC says in a statement.
What prosecutor himself says
According to Reuters, Karim Khan’s lawyers disagree with the decision to remove him.
The defense considers it unlawful and claims the allegations are unsupported by evidence.
Since May 2025, Khan has been on administrative leave pending the investigation.
What is he accused of
Information about possible harassment by Karim Khan emerged in the fall of 2024.
According to Western media reports, the allegations were made by his assistant, a lawyer from Malaysia.
The prosecutor himself denies all charges. He claims that the campaign against him is part of an Israeli covert operation aimed at discrediting him.
Karim Khan
Karim Asad Ahmad Khan, a 56-year-old British lawyer, is a specialist in international criminal law and international human rights law. He has served as Chief Prosecutor of the ICC since his election in February 2021.
Khan is known for issuing some of the most high-profile arrest warrants:
- In March 2023, he issued an arrest warrant for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and Russian Children’s Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova for the deportation of Ukrainian children.
- In November 2024, he issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
In Russia, a criminal case was opened against Khan for illegal persecution of Russian citizens. A Moscow court sentenced him in absentia to 15 years in prison.
In May 2025, Karim Khan temporarily stepped down from his post pending an investigation into allegations of possible sexual harassment.
The US imposed sanctions on Karim Khan after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country’s former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
