A vigil that rounded up the torturers and shook the Maduro government

Master strategist, bold, analytical, intellectual. In the Chambers and Partners legal directory, Karim Ahmed Khan’s profile as a lawyer at the International Criminal Court presents the professional attributes that make him one. Straight and front officerWith extensive experience in managing complex matters such as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“His ability to articulate and summarize the most difficult legal analyzes in concise and powerful terms is legendary. He is a highly respected lawyer to be reckoned with. He litigates their cases with dignity and vigor”, reads this summary of the International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor.

And this is precisely what man is The investigations resulted in numerous complaints of crimes against humanity against the government of Nicolás Maduro and the many hierarchies of his administration.

A person who tried to force the regime to halt the process from its usual microphone stand-off has also warned that dialogue with the opposition for democratic openings will be dissolved if it continues.

But nothing changed. Karim Khan continues with his steadfast legal code.

It was on June 16, 2021, that Khan, R., was born in London in 1970.Fatou Bensouda was replaced, who held office for 9 years. He inherited cases such as Afghanistan, Bolivia, Colombia, the Philippines, Guinea, Palestine and Venezuela.

“I will carry out my duties as an ICC prosecutor, honestly, truthfully, impartially and conscientiously (…) In the 21st century, transitional crimes continue to be committed, and the Court represents a promise for the future.”He revealed, according to El País.

Precisely earlier advocates received open criticism from various groups Non-governmental organizations such as Amnesty International, said ICC prosecutors lacked the ability to deliver justice because they were easily influenced by powerful governments. The story seems to have changed with Khan.

Today, after visiting Venezuela in 2021, meeting Nicolás Maduro in Miraflores and opening and managing the event’s office in the country, the Venezuelan president shows himself as the human banner of world justice by confirming that he led a legitimate program against the enemies. : “They were subjected to sexual abuse, beatings and electric shocks.”.

Later, he rejected legal arguments that the ICC should reject the investigations. “There have been crimes against humanity in Venezuela that are serious and must be investigated and prosecuted,” he said.

Rafael Narvaez, a former parliamentary lawyer and defender of civil rights, clarified in a recent interview with Contrapunto that “the Venezuelan government has always underestimated the establishment of the Rome Statute, the powers of the ICC and the path of prosecutor Karim Khan.” Also, with forms sent by 8,900 victims of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, cruel and inhuman and degrading treatment.

The worst criminals on the planet

“He’s used to dealing with some of the worst criminals on the planet,” says an editorial in Spain’s ABC newspaper.

In his intimate professional profile, he claims to have more than a quarter of a century of experience in the field of international criminal law and human rights, sometimes as a prosecutor and other times as a defense attorney.

“Prior to his appointment to his current position, he already practiced cases at the ICC and the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, the Extraordinary Chambers in Cambodia and the Special Courts for Lebanon and Sierra Leone. He represented victims of crimes against humanity in Africa and Asia, but Former Liberian President Charles Taylor will be sentenced to 50 years in prison in 2013 for war crimes and crimes against humanity”, it has been documented.

His last performance before joining the Prosecutor’s Office in The Hague was between 2018 and 2021, as UN Under-Secretary-General and the UN’s mission to investigate Daesh’s crimes in Iraq. Was also the chairman of the committee.

EFE reporter and conflict expert Imani Richadi describes it as follows: “He has devoted half of his 50 years to guaranteeing a fair trial for his clients, regardless of whether they are victims or defendants.”

During his career, Khan has had to represent some of the most controversial clients, including successful defenses of former Congolese vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba, who was acquitted at the second instance of his first 18-year prison sentence for war crimes. and criminal offenses and humanitarianism committed by its troops in the Central African Republic in 2002.

He is charismatic, diplomatic, has a gift for communication and believes in the power of the courts.

A biased view?

In early April, in a memo from the General Chancellery of the Republic, the Maduro government accused Khan of showing the expected deference against Venezuela by rejecting the government’s charges in an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity. 120 people died in the protests in 2017.

Khan “shows a clear partisan view of Venezuela, recklessly reproducing campaigns that seek to instrumentalize the issue of justice and human rights for political purposes,” he said. Since then, representatives of the regime have demonized him in their speeches.

But the position of the British lawyer is pioneering. The Hague Tribunal received 1,875 applications representing 8,900 victims, 630 victim families and 2 organizations.. All requests were in favor of the ICC continuing to investigate the Venezuela case.

According to the NGO Access to Justice, this participation figure is surpassed only by the ICC investigation into war crimes in Afghanistan, where armed groups of the Taliban and US military forces are involved. VPRS gathered evidence in Persia. 11,150 victims and 130 families, all represented by 16 agencies.

“His only concern is to persecute Venezuela. Out of respect, he should refrain from making any accusations against Venezuela because he is a frontrunner against our country,” he declared. God given hair On his show with Mazo Dando a week ago.

The reality is that Nicolás Maduro’s government is showing nervousness. An example of his toughness and stance against human rights abuses occurred on March 16 from the highest reaches of power.

On that day, the International Criminal Court issued two arrest warrants, one against President Vladimir Putin and the other against Russian Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lavova-Belova for war crimes, specifically illegal deportations. Children from Ukraine to Russia. Khan challenges a powerful ally with strong documents.

“Those who think they can sleep well at night after committing crimes during the day, look at history,” he said of the appeal.

And he cited three iconic cases that call for him to stand firm in his convictions: former Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic, who was found dead in his cell in The Hague on March 11, 2006, before his trial was completed; Liberia’s bloody former president, Charles Taylor, was sentenced to 50 years in prison by a UN-backed war crimes tribunal in The Hague; and businessman Felician Kabuga, indicted for genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 1998, and finally arrested in Paris in 2020.