Venezuela to exit ICC as member states remove prosecutor

The ICC has an active investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela, focusing on brutal actions by state authorities and security forces under the administration of Nicolás Maduro.

The probe, opened in 2021, covers severe human rights violations, including murder, torture, rape, political persecution, and arbitrary imprisonment in the aftermath of the 2017 political protests.

Meanwhile, during an emergency session at the UN Headquarters in New York on Friday, 82 of the 125 ⁠member states of the ICC voted to dismiss Karim Khan as prosecutor ⁠over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Khan, 56, took administrative leave in May 2025. In June 2026, the ICC Bureau formally suspended him following internal oversight findings. He becomes the first chief prosecutor to be ousted from office.