Member states of the International Criminal Court have voted to remove its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, after finding that he committed serious misconduct and a serious breach of duty. The decision is significant because it removes the court’s leading prosecutor during a period of political pressure and scrutiny of the ICC’s work.

Eighty-two of the ICC’s 125 member states backed Khan’s removal, following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a female aide; Khan has consistently denied wrongdoing and says he will challenge the decision. The British barrister had led the prosecutor’s office since 2021, and his dismissal follows a suspension and disciplinary proceedings that had been under way for months.