LJUBLJANA, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Slovenia on Thursday rejected and criticized the latest sanctions imposed by the United States on judges and prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC), stressing the importance of judicial independence.
"Slovenia rejects pressure on judicial institutions and interference in the work of the judiciary. Courts must act in the interests of law and justice," the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs said in a statement on social media platform X.
The U.S. on Wednesday announced sanctions against Canadian judge Kimberly Prost, French judge Nicolas Guillou, and deputy prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji and Mame Mandiaye Niang of Senegal.
This marks the second round of sanctions by Washington targeting ICC staff. In June, four judges, including Slovenia's Beti Hohler, were placed under similar restrictions.
According to the measures, the sanctioned individuals are barred from accessing any assets in the U.S., while American citizens and companies are prohibited from conducting business with them.
The sanctions follow ICC decisions last year to issue arrest warrants for two senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as the court's ongoing investigation into alleged U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the ICC as a "threat to national security" and accused it of being used as a tool of "legal warfare" against the U.S. and its ally Israel.
The United States and Israel are not parties to the Rome Statute and do not hold membership in the ICC. ■
