The International Criminal Court (ICC) is considering establishing an Asian regional hub office in Tokyo, President Tomoko Akane said at a news conference in the city on Wednesday.
The new office is expected to focus on public relations.
Akane was elected president of the court in The Hague in March as the first Japanese citizen elected to the position, after holding positions at the Supreme Court, among others.
At the press conference, she emphasized that the ICC makes every decision based on the rule of law and opposes any political pressure.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2023, following his country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In May this year, the ICC’s chief prosecutor requested an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his country’s fighting with the Palestinians. militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Akane did not comment on these developments during the press conference.
On Wednesday, the ICC and Keio University signed a basic agreement on internship. Akane gave a speech at the large private university.
