Sergey Vasiliev
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sevslv.bsky.social
Sergey Vasiliev
@sevslv.bsky.social

International courts, accountability, transitional justice; 🚮 fascist dictatorships

I profess international law | Open University https://research.ou.nl/en/persons/sergey-vasiliev

TG по-русски https://t.me/nuremberhague

🐘 https://mastodon.social/@sevslv .. more

Political science 68%
Law 14%
Pinned
International law should apply to everyone, be it one's 'enemies', 'friends', or those making that very distinction.

Otherwise, international law would not be law in the proper sense, but its simulacra instead, called variously 'the rules-based international order' 🇺🇲 or 'the multipolar world' 🇷🇺🇨🇳.

It isn't about combating "narcoterrorism", but about the US securing access to Venezuelan oil, lithium, and other natural resources.

It isn't about promoting democracy, but about the US imposing its hegemony in the Western Hemisphere.

Brute force and extractivism—nothing else. #Venezuela

You attack another state, depose and abduct its leader, bring him and his family member to your own court, and indict them with multiple conspiracy charges.

Where is international law on the use of force and immunities in all of this?

At least, the US are not convening an "international tribunal".

So, 2026 starts off with an illegal regime change carried out by the US.

If the Trump administration maintains that this act was lawful under int'l law and a good precedent, it would expose Trump himself, Herzog/Netanyahu—or any other state leader—to similar military cum law-enforcement operations.

Art 21(1) TEU provides that the Union’s action on the international scene shall be guided by respect for the UN Charter and international law principles. Why's there not a word of condemnation of US act of aggression—nor even an expression of "concern"? Call things by their name or lose credibility.

Trump's United States is a rogue regime which purveys and enforces this #LawoftheJungle.

The credible international legal basis for the US attack on 🇻🇪 is non-existent.

This is a brazen state act and individual crime of aggression. Alas, no international court can currently exercise jurisdiction.

Today US carried out strikes against Venezuela. Reportedly, Delta Force captured 🇻🇪 ruler Maduro and his wife and shipped them out of the country.

Zero sympathy for dictatorships. But this operation is a flagrant breach of international law.

A rogue state enforcing the law of the jungle, anno 2026.

2025 was a disastrous year for human rights.

States failed to halt genocide and several major srmed conflicts. Prospects for a just peace remain illusory.

Let 2026 be the year of accountability and bring us the execution of all high-profile ICC arrest warrants.

A happier social construction!

This US administration began by sanctioning international civil servants—the elected officials of the ICC—and has now moved on to sanctioning a former European Commissioner. Will the EU continue to act as if nothing extraordinary is happening and fail to use its Blocking Statute?

The Israel Prison Service: "We are not aware of the claims described, and to the best of our knowledge, no such incidents have occurred under IPS responsibility."

When asked whether an investigation had been initiated into the alleged rape, BBC got no response.

This silence is telling.
"Two Palestinian men have told the BBC they personally experienced the kind of beatings and sexual abuse highlighted in recent reports into the treatment of prisoners in Israeli detention."
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Palestinians tell BBC they were sexually abused in Israeli prisons - BBC News
Two men say they experienced the kind of abuse highlighted in recent reports on Israel's treatment of prisoners, which Israel denies.
www.bbc.com

"Two Palestinian men have told the BBC they personally experienced the kind of beatings and sexual abuse highlighted in recent reports into the treatment of prisoners in Israeli detention."
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Palestinians tell BBC they were sexually abused in Israeli prisons - BBC News
Two men say they experienced the kind of abuse highlighted in recent reports on Israel's treatment of prisoners, which Israel denies.
www.bbc.com

Only criminal organisations retaliate against judges and prosecutors.

Only rogue regimes attack international courts for merely doing their job.

This has to be said. This is what Trump's United States and Putin's Russia are doing to the International Criminal Court, in the full view of the world.

It took only 3 days. The US reacts by designating two ICC judges. Rubio claims that the ICC engages "in politicized actions targeting Israel, which set a dangerous precedent for all nations". But it is Rubio who is attacking judges and rejecting equality before the law.
www.state.gov/releases/202...

The pretext for this unlawful coercive measure against the judges is their involvement in the Appeals Chamber, which recently rejected Israel's appeal. This is an act of direct retaliation. Rubio and his boss are unfamiliar with the concept of judicial independence.
ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actio...

Today Trump's United States imposed sanctions on ICC judges Lordkipanidze (Georgia) and Damdin (Mongolia), bringing the number of sanctioned ICC officials to 11. The US is trying hard to pressure the ICC into annulling the warrant against Netanyahu. Shame!
www.icc-cpi.int/news...

Trump is having another episode of bellicosity, I get it. But this is an act of war; an unlawful use and threat of force against another State. Will this be allowed to continue without consequences for Trump? If so, little remains of the US Constitution, the authority of Congress, and democracy.

"The blockade of the ports or coasts of a State by the armed forces of another" constitutes an act of aggression (Art 3c 1974 Definition, UNGAR 3314).

It may trigger Venezuela's right of self-defence if it meets the Art 51 UNC threshold.

Trump's US is a threat to international peace and security.

Findings of ECHR art 18 breaches (ulterior aims behind restrictions of other Convention rights) are rare in the European Court's practice.

"Widescale & coordinated measures dismantling Navalnyy network in Russia, multiple violations of the European Convention". Press release t.co/VNpBVmbe1o

Massive victory for the Anti-Corruption Foundation's legal team in Strasbourg: the ECtHR ruled in favour of the applicants in FBK & others v Russia (App nos 13505/20 etc). The ECtHR found violations of:
- art 8
- art 1 Protocol 1
- art 11 (foreign agent designation)
- art 18 (political motives)
Honored to serve on the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic.

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
Human Rights Council President appoints Members of the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
GENEVA - The President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Jürg Lauber (Switzerland), has appointed Monia Ammar (Tunisia) and Fionnuala Ní Aoláin (Republic of Ireland) to serve as members of the U...
www.ohchr.org

Three AC judges appended separate opinions:
Dissenting opinion of Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/CourtRecords/0902ebd180d42b7e.pdf

Three AC judges appended separate opinions:
Dissenting opinion of Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza www.icc-cpi.int/site...
Dissenting opinion of Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa www.icc-cpi.int/site...
Concurring opinion of Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze www.icc-cpi.int/site...

Important ICC judgment today in the Situation in the State of #Palestine. The ICC Appeals Chamber dismisses Israel's appeal against the PTC decision on Israel's request for an order to the Prosecution to give an Art 18(1) notice from 21 November 2024

www.icc-cpi.int/site...

Belarusian political prisoners Ales Bialiatski and Maria Kalesnikava are free!

#FreePoliticalPrisoners
“I can’t think of any other way to describe it but an attack on the independence of the judiciary and the ICC's independence as an institution, which is why I’m so interested in the public hearing this.” @naomiohreally.bsky.social interviews ICC Judge Kim Prost.
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock International Criminal Court judge out of daily life
Canadian judge Kimberly Prost is unable to use credit cards, transfer money or book everyday services in what she calls an attack on the independence of the judiciary
www.irishtimes.com

Former EEAS Head Federica Mogherini resigns from her position as rector of the College of Europe after her arrest as part of the fraud investigation by the EPPO and Belgian authorities.
https://www.politico.eu/article/federica-mogherini-resigns-from-college-of-europe/
Federica Mogherini resigns from College of Europe
Ex-EU top diplomat resigns days after raids connected to fraud probe.
www.politico.eu

Happy Friday news! The 13-month UN OIOS fact-finding epopee is over. The Panel of Judicial Experts is now seized with the matter and is expected to complete its task within 30 days "subject to the complexity of the issues". The report was received yesterday...
www.icc-cpi.int/news/stateme...
Statement by the ASP Presidency concerning the receipt of the OIOS fact-finding report on alleged misconduct by the ICC Prosecutor
The Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties informs that the fact-finding investigative report by the Office of the Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) on alleged misconduct by the ICC Prosecutor has been received by the President of the Assembly of States Parties on 11 December 2025 and has been forwarded immediately to the Panel of judicial experts established by the Bureau of the Assembly. The submission of the investigative report to the panel follows the procedure previously established by the Bureau and in no way provides any indication as to the findings of the report.The Panel will conduct an assessment under the legal framework of the Rome Statute, the Rules of Procedure and Evidence of the Court and relevant administrative instruments, in assistance of the Bureau’s consideration of the matter. The Panel will report to the Bureau via the President of the Assembly upon completion of its work, which is anticipated to take thirty calendar days, subject to the complexity of the issues. Once completed, the work of the judicial experts together with the OIOS report will be considered by the Bureau in accordance with the Rome Statute and the legal framework of the Court.The Presidency of the Assembly 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 Assembly of States Parties is the management oversight and legislative body of the ICC. The Bureau of the Assembly consists of a President, two Vice-Presidents and 18 members elected by the Assembly for three-year terms. The Presidency of the Assembly is currently composed of Ambassador Ms. Päivi Kaukoranta (Finland), President, Ambassador Mr. Michael Imran Kanu (Sierra Leone), Vice-President, and Ambassador Ms. Margareta Kassangana (Poland), Vice-President.
www.icc-cpi.int

Nothing demonstrates the fast and inexorable approximation between Putin's regime in Russia and the Trump administration in the US more clearly than this. Both fear international accountability and are lashing out at the ICC while dismantling - or having already destroyed - the rule of law at home.
⚡️The Moscow City "Court" convicted the ICC Prosecutor & 8 sitting/former judges of "unlawful prosecution" of Russian citizens (because one of them got so upset). ICC officials were sentenced in absentia (keep it that way!) to jail terms of 3.5-15 years. Karim Khan received 15.

The incumbent and former ICC judges targeted by this coercive measure (Article 70 crime, by the way):
- Tomoko Akane
- Rosario Aitala
- Sergio Ugalde Godínez
- Haykel Ben Mahfoudh
- Piotr Hofmański
- Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza
- Bertram Schmitt
- Reine Alapini-Gansou