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The International Criminal Court said prosecutors have dropped an investigation into whether U.S. sanctions on Venezuela amounted to crimes against humanity, citing a lack of evidence of the intent required for criminal charges. In a statement, the prosecutor’s office said it was “generally accepted” that sanctions “may have exacerbated an existing dire humanitarian situation,” but it said the evidence did not support the “necessary intent” element.
Venezuela asked the ICC in 2020 to examine what it described as “unlawful coercive measures,” arguing that asset freezes and travel bans targeting Venezuelan officials—first imposed by the United States under President Barack Obama—had caused “widespread suffering.” After an initial investigation, prosecutors declined to proceed, according to the ICC statement, and the court confirmed that the file was being closed.
The ICC said the decision to end the sanctions inquiry was separate from other Venezuela-related proceedings. It said the closure of the investigation was “unrelated to the January 2026 events in Venezuela,” which included a U.S. operation described by the Associated Press as capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a lightning military strike.
The ICC statement also emphasized that the sanctions examination is distinct from its ongoing work into possible crimes committed by Venezuelan security forces under Maduro’s rule. That separate inquiry concerns the 2017 crackdown on anti-government protests, the Associated Press report said.
The ICC’s approach to Venezuela cases also remains affected by developments involving Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. Appeals judges last year ordered Khan to recuse himself from an investigation into Venezuela, citing a conflict of interest involving his sister-in-law, international criminal lawyer Venkateswari Alagendra, who has been part of a team representing Maduro’s government.
Khan is currently on leave from the court, stepping down temporarily pending an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, the Associated Press report added. Separately, prosecutors said Thursday that they were moving forward with another investigation—this time into possible crimes against humanity committed by Belarus.
The ICC said the Belarus case was linked to a request by Lithuania in 2024. Lithuania is a member of the court, while Belarus is not, and Lithuania asked the ICC to open an investigation alleging severe crackdowns faced by opposition groups in the neighboring country. Lithuania’s position, as described by the Associated Press, is that President Alexander Lukashenko forced dissidents over the border, giving the court jurisdiction.
The Associated Press report said the decision opens up the possibility that Lukashenko and other Belarusian officials could face charges at the ICC. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a Belarusian opposition leader in exile, welcomed the move, saying in a statement to The Associated Press: “This decision restores hope — that justice will prevail, that those responsible will be held accountable, and that the victims will finally receive truth and justice,” according to the report.