AIPD Statement – On the Sentence of 15 Years’ Imprisonment Imposed by a Russian Court on Rosario Aitala, Judge of the International Criminal Court
December 23rd, 2025
The news of the sentence imposed by a Russian court on the Italian judge Rosario Aitala, Vice-President of the International Criminal Court, has reignited the debate on respect for the autonomy and independence of international criminal jurisdiction. In a dedicated statement, the Italian Association of Professors of Criminal Law expressed serious concern over a measure that directly affects a judge engaged in the exercise of judicial functions of supranational relevance.
According to information reported by the media, the sentence – handed down in absentia and amounting to fifteen years’ imprisonment – appears to be linked to Judge Aitala’s role in proceedings before the Court, with particular reference to the adoption of provisional measures in relation to war crimes. Against an international backdrop marked by armed conflicts, widespread violations of fundamental rights and increasing external pressure on the Court, the Association uses this episode to draw attention to the importance of international criminal law as an essential safeguard of the shared values of the international community, calling for a clear and resolute response to any initiative aimed at undermining the Court’s authority or interfering with its work.
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