Mathias Holvoet
@mathiasholvoet.bsky.social
Lecturer in International Criminal Law @ University of Amsterdam. Cycling enthusiast, both on and off the bike.
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
Wil Belgium open a criminal trial into the assassination of Patrice Lumumba and give truth a chance? After decades of silence, denial and impunity for this major colonial crime – and decades of relentless struggle by the Lumumba family – the court is expected to deliver its decision on March 17.
Belgian court weighs trial for ex-diplomat over Patrice Lumumba killing
Belgian court weighs trial for ex-diplomat over Patrice Lumumba killing
The family of Patrice Lumumba, the icon of Congolese independence who was assassinated in 1961, has been pushing for a legal reckoning over the complicity of Belgian officials for the past 15 years. One-time European Commissioner Étienne Davignon is the only remaining ex-official still alive to face justice.
www.lemonde.fr
January 21, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Wil Belgium open a criminal trial into the assassination of Patrice Lumumba and give truth a chance? After decades of silence, denial and impunity for this major colonial crime – and decades of relentless struggle by the Lumumba family – the court is expected to deliver its decision on March 17.
Venezuela to withdraw from the ICC, marking the 5th withdrawal this year, after Hungary, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
Today's news roundup:
-Abrego Garcia is released from ICE detention
-Venezuela paves the way for withdrawal from International Criminal Court
-M23 offensive in DRC's South Kivu kills over 400 civilians
-A grand jury again declines to reindict Letitia James
👇
www.justsecurity.org/126895/early...
-Abrego Garcia is released from ICE detention
-Venezuela paves the way for withdrawal from International Criminal Court
-M23 offensive in DRC's South Kivu kills over 400 civilians
-A grand jury again declines to reindict Letitia James
👇
www.justsecurity.org/126895/early...
Early Edition: December 12, 2025
A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the last 24 hours.
www.justsecurity.org
December 12, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Venezuela to withdraw from the ICC, marking the 5th withdrawal this year, after Hungary, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
Congratulations to Graham Phillips for achieving this first - Pro-Russia former civil servant becomes first Brit to face Ukraine 'war crime' charges over clip of pigs eating dead soldiers
www.lbc.co.uk/article/firs...
www.lbc.co.uk/article/firs...
Pro-Russia former civil servant becomes first Brit to face Ukraine 'war crime' charges over clip of pigs eating dead soldiers | LBC
A former civil servant who has publicly voiced his support for Vladimir Putin has reportedly become the first Brit to face charges of war crimes over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
www.lbc.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Congratulations to Graham Phillips for achieving this first - Pro-Russia former civil servant becomes first Brit to face Ukraine 'war crime' charges over clip of pigs eating dead soldiers
www.lbc.co.uk/article/firs...
www.lbc.co.uk/article/firs...
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
Trump admin's lawless killing spree continues.
Another lethal strike in the Caribbean against a boat allegedly operated by an unidentified "designated terrorist organization."
Fellow Americans:
Do you want your government committing actions credibly described as crimes against humanity?
Another lethal strike in the Caribbean against a boat allegedly operated by an unidentified "designated terrorist organization."
Fellow Americans:
Do you want your government committing actions credibly described as crimes against humanity?
November 7, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Trump admin's lawless killing spree continues.
Another lethal strike in the Caribbean against a boat allegedly operated by an unidentified "designated terrorist organization."
Fellow Americans:
Do you want your government committing actions credibly described as crimes against humanity?
Another lethal strike in the Caribbean against a boat allegedly operated by an unidentified "designated terrorist organization."
Fellow Americans:
Do you want your government committing actions credibly described as crimes against humanity?
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
"The 'war on drugs' is a metaphor. Or was." www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-targ...
Trump’s Targeting of ‘Narcoterrorists’ Is a Crime in Itself
Shoot first, ask questions when?
www.thebulwark.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:15 PM
"The 'war on drugs' is a metaphor. Or was." www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-targ...
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
Aanklager van het Internationaal Strafhof beschuldigd van seksueel misbruik. Nieuw, uitgebreid onderzoek in @nrc.nl: www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Misbruik, manipulatie en achterdocht in de top van het Internationaal Strafhof in Den Haag
VN-onderzoek: Tegen de hoofdaanklager van het Internationaal Strafhof loopt een onderzoek van de Verenigde Naties – een naaste medewerker beschuldigt hem van seksueel misbruik. Dit ging een rol spelen...
www.nrc.nl
October 8, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Aanklager van het Internationaal Strafhof beschuldigd van seksueel misbruik. Nieuw, uitgebreid onderzoek in @nrc.nl: www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Great blog on digitally enabled international crimes.
Last in our Spyware Accountability series with the
@atlanticcouncil.bsky.social:
For the Rome Statute to remain relevant, practitioners must understand how governments can deploy spyware to commit international crimes, writes Lindsay Freeman.
www.justsecurity.org/118463/rome-...
@atlanticcouncil.bsky.social:
For the Rome Statute to remain relevant, practitioners must understand how governments can deploy spyware to commit international crimes, writes Lindsay Freeman.
www.justsecurity.org/118463/rome-...
The Rome Statute in the Digital Age: Confronting Emerging Cyber Threats
A lack of regulation and oversight in cyberspace has led to significant abuse — often going hand-in-hand with human rights violations.
www.justsecurity.org
October 6, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Great blog on digitally enabled international crimes.
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
Overall the problem with the Rome Statute system is that its authors made it so voluntary and optional—you can sign, unsign, and sign again; you can join, you can leave, join again; you can refer, you can defer. You can cooperate, you cannot cooperate. State governments will do all, did all & do all
West Africa & #ICC. Washington pushed some states not to join. Senegal was the first to sign the Rome Statute; Côte d’Ivoire the first to transfer jurisdiction; Mali cooperated in two trials. Guinea sought assistance. Gambia withdrew & rejoined. Now junta’s unsubscribe, allegedly pushed by Moscow
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger withdraw from ICC
September 24, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Overall the problem with the Rome Statute system is that its authors made it so voluntary and optional—you can sign, unsign, and sign again; you can join, you can leave, join again; you can refer, you can defer. You can cooperate, you cannot cooperate. State governments will do all, did all & do all
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
Exclusive: ICC arrest warrant applications ready for Israel's Ben Gvir and Smotrich on apartheid charges
"The applications are in the hands of two deputy prosecutors in ... but ICC sources are concerned they will not submit them for fear of sanctions"
www.middleeasteye.net/news/icc-arr...
"The applications are in the hands of two deputy prosecutors in ... but ICC sources are concerned they will not submit them for fear of sanctions"
www.middleeasteye.net/news/icc-arr...
Exclusive: ICC arrest warrant applications ready for Israel's Ben Gvir and Smotrich on apartheid charges
The applications are in the hands of two deputy prosecutors in Karim Khan's absence, but ICC sources are concerned they will not submit them for fear of sanctions
www.middleeasteye.net
August 15, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Exclusive: ICC arrest warrant applications ready for Israel's Ben Gvir and Smotrich on apartheid charges
"The applications are in the hands of two deputy prosecutors in ... but ICC sources are concerned they will not submit them for fear of sanctions"
www.middleeasteye.net/news/icc-arr...
"The applications are in the hands of two deputy prosecutors in ... but ICC sources are concerned they will not submit them for fear of sanctions"
www.middleeasteye.net/news/icc-arr...
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
States to endorse on Friday the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute leaders of Russia, Belarus and North Korea for the crime of aggression against #Ukraine. www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Ukraine to host foreign ministers to endorse 'special tribunal' for Russian leadership
Ukraine will host a group of foreign ministers in Lviv on Friday to endorse the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute the leadership of Russia, Belarus and North Korea for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, a senior Kyiv official said.
www.reuters.com
May 8, 2025 at 7:24 PM
States to endorse on Friday the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute leaders of Russia, Belarus and North Korea for the crime of aggression against #Ukraine. www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
New applications for ICC arrest warrants in the Situation in Palestine—now regarding the West Bank—are on the way or may have been filed. But this time, if these reports are correct, the PTC judges ordered that warrants be requested
April 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
New applications for ICC arrest warrants in the Situation in Palestine—now regarding the West Bank—are on the way or may have been filed. But this time, if these reports are correct, the PTC judges ordered that warrants be requested
Future Special Tribunal for Ukraine will only hold in absentia trials for Putin and other high officials after they have left office. More on the Tribunal in following article: www.euronews.com/my-europe/20....
Exclusive: President Putin won't be tried for war crimes in absentia
The special tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine is expected to be hosted in the Hague, the Netherlands. #EuropeNews
www.euronews.com
April 10, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Future Special Tribunal for Ukraine will only hold in absentia trials for Putin and other high officials after they have left office. More on the Tribunal in following article: www.euronews.com/my-europe/20....
I was interviewed by DW on the Netanyahu visit to Hungary. Read the article below 👇.
April 2, 2025 at 8:12 AM
I was interviewed by DW on the Netanyahu visit to Hungary. Read the article below 👇.
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
How Duterte was arrested and brought to the #ICC: lots of waiting in the airport lounge with rice, barbecued meat, and Coca-Cola.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/w...
How the High-Stakes Arrest of Rodrigo Duterte Unfolded (Gift Article)
The man who ordered the Philippines’ bloody war on drugs is now in a cell at The Hague. Getting him there was far from a sure thing.
www.nytimes.com
March 20, 2025 at 6:29 PM
How Duterte was arrested and brought to the #ICC: lots of waiting in the airport lounge with rice, barbecued meat, and Coca-Cola.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/w...
Must read about the politicking in the Al-Masri case.
"Only days before, Meloni had secured the release of an Italian journalist who had been kidnapped by Iranian authorities - and there were anxieties that a similar thing could happen to staff at the Italian Embassy in Tripoli."
Pretty much as expected.
www.politico.eu/article/osam...
Pretty much as expected.
www.politico.eu/article/osam...
Italy’s release of a warlord puts Meloni’s entanglements with Libya under scrutiny
“Il caso Al-Masri” raises serious questions over Rome’s dealings with Libya.
www.politico.eu
March 17, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Must read about the politicking in the Al-Masri case.
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
Former #Philippines President Mr Rodrigo Roa #Duterte — suspected of crimes against humanity — is scheduled to appear before Internaitonal Criminal Court, #ICC, judges tomorrow (Friday 14 March) at 14:00 ('s-Gravenhage, local time) www.icc-cpi.int/sites/defaul...
March 13, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Former #Philippines President Mr Rodrigo Roa #Duterte — suspected of crimes against humanity — is scheduled to appear before Internaitonal Criminal Court, #ICC, judges tomorrow (Friday 14 March) at 14:00 ('s-Gravenhage, local time) www.icc-cpi.int/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
Very informative article.
Always happy to speak with Lian Buan from Rappler - a stellar journalist who has covered the 'war on drugs' in the #Philippines for years.
#ICC #accountability #CAH
www.rappler.com/newsbreak/ex...
#ICC #accountability #CAH
www.rappler.com/newsbreak/ex...
What are the legal issues in Duterte's arrest and transfer to The Hague?
(1st UPDATE) In the initial proceedings at the ICC, Duterte will be informed of his rights, including the right to apply for an interim release, like bail
www.rappler.com
March 12, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Very informative article.
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
A short piece for Opinio Juris, based on today's news of the arrest of Rodrigo Duterte for the #Philippines "war on drugs".
#ICC #accountability
opiniojuris.org/2025/03/11/a...
#ICC #accountability
opiniojuris.org/2025/03/11/a...
Arrest of Rodrigo Duterte for “War on Drugs” in the Philippines
When the news broke that the former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte had been arrested and detained upon arrival at Manila’s airport from an overseas trip, by Philippine police executing an in…
opiniojuris.org
March 11, 2025 at 9:55 AM
A short piece for Opinio Juris, based on today's news of the arrest of Rodrigo Duterte for the #Philippines "war on drugs".
#ICC #accountability
opiniojuris.org/2025/03/11/a...
#ICC #accountability
opiniojuris.org/2025/03/11/a...
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
Not going to parse language or explain context. Just note what is being said/implied in light of the following definition of the ‘crime against humanity of deportation or forcible transfer’:
February 5, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Not going to parse language or explain context. Just note what is being said/implied in light of the following definition of the ‘crime against humanity of deportation or forcible transfer’:
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
Press release: The Special Tribunal will be established by an agreement between the Government of Ukraine & the Council of Europe (COE). It will derive its jurisdiction from Ukraine. The COE will be in charge of the procedure for adoption of the draft legal instruments.
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
February 5, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Press release: The Special Tribunal will be established by an agreement between the Government of Ukraine & the Council of Europe (COE). It will derive its jurisdiction from Ukraine. The COE will be in charge of the procedure for adoption of the draft legal instruments.
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Reposted by Mathias Holvoet
Italian authorities arrested Osama Elmasry Njeem based on a warrant from the International Criminal Court. But instead of transferring him to The Hague, he was sent to Libya.
Chantal Meloni analyzes how the case impacts cooperation between States and the ICC.
www.justsecurity.org/107175/italy...
Chantal Meloni analyzes how the case impacts cooperation between States and the ICC.
www.justsecurity.org/107175/italy...
Italy, Libya, and the Failure of State Cooperation with the International Criminal Court in the Elmasry Arrest Case
The decision to release Osama Elmasry Njeem and fly him back to Libya immediately drew widespread outrage in Italy and beyond.
www.justsecurity.org
January 30, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Italian authorities arrested Osama Elmasry Njeem based on a warrant from the International Criminal Court. But instead of transferring him to The Hague, he was sent to Libya.
Chantal Meloni analyzes how the case impacts cooperation between States and the ICC.
www.justsecurity.org/107175/italy...
Chantal Meloni analyzes how the case impacts cooperation between States and the ICC.
www.justsecurity.org/107175/italy...
Excellent post indeed!
🚨 Excellent blog post on the Almasri affair in Italy! A deep dive into Italian law on ICC cooperation, showing how the Justice Minister, Prosecutor General, and Court of Appeals acted to let Almasri evade ICC surrender. 📖 👉 www.ejiltalk.org/the-failure-...
The failure to arrest and surrender Osama Elmasry Njeem: “That Awful Mess” in Rome
On 21 January 2025, the Court of Appeals of Rome, at the request of the concerned person and with the favorable opinion of the Prosecutor General, issued an order of immediate release in favor of M…
www.ejiltalk.org
January 27, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Excellent post indeed!
Every detail about who orchestrated Almasri’s release and subsequent repatriation needs to be uncovered.
Meloni faces questions after Italy frees Libyan general accused of war crimes
Meloni faces questions after Italy frees Libyan general accused of war crimes
Case of Osama Najim puts spotlight on controversial migration pact between Italy and Libya
Giorgia Meloni’s government is under pressure to clarify why a Rome court refused to approve the arrest of a Libyan general accused of war crimes, allowing him to…
www.theguardian.com
January 22, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Every detail about who orchestrated Almasri’s release and subsequent repatriation needs to be uncovered.
Very useful 🧵 on Al Masri-Italy-ICC saga.
Breaking Update: Osama Najim (Almasri) has been released from prison in Italy and returned to Libya after the Italian judiciary declined to approve his arrest on an ICC warrant. This decision is sparked a heated debate in Italy. www.rainews.it/articoli/202...
January 22, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Very useful 🧵 on Al Masri-Italy-ICC saga.