The Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court (ICC) has voted to remove Karim Khan from his position as Prosecutor-General, following allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of authority. The decision was adopted by 82 votes in favor during a special session held at United Nations headquarters in New York.
Khan, who was elected as the ICC's third prosecutor in 2021, was suspended from his post last month. According to the court's oversight body, he committed "serious misconduct and gross misconduct" after allegedly forming an inappropriate relationship with a young ICC employee and attempting to prevent her from formally pursuing the complaint.
Karim Khan has consistently denied the charges. His lawyer has announced that the decision will be appealed through all legal channels, describing the process as unfair and illegal.
The investigation against him began after the first complaints in May 2024. An initial procedure was closed after the person claiming to be a victim refused to participate, but the case was then referred to the United Nations Office for Internal Oversight (OIOS), which conducted an extensive investigation from November 2024 to December 2025, collecting over 5,000 pages of evidence and materials.
Khan's dismissal comes at a delicate moment for the International Criminal Court. He was in the spotlight internationally after he sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged crimes during the Gaza war.
Following this action, the United States imposed sanctions on Khan, while the US administration has warned of other measures, including visa bans and diplomatic pressure on allied countries to limit the ICC's powers. On the other hand, the International Criminal Court has stated that it will continue to guarantee a safe and professional environment for all its employees.
