Renowned Belarusian lawyer Ekaterina Deikalo announced on her Facebook page that the composition of the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which will investigate possible crimes against humanity in Belarus, has been determined. The panel consists of three highly experienced judges with extensive international careers.
1. Julia Motoc (Romania)
She is considered a leading expert in international law.
Experience: Before joining the ICC, she served for a decade as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
UN system: She worked as a UN Special Rapporteur for the Congo and dealt with issues of genetics and human rights.
Academic career: She is a professor of international law and has lectured at numerous universities worldwide.
2. Reine Alapini-Gansou (Benin)
Second Vice-President of the ICC, frequently targeted by political pressure due to her decisions.
Experience: She served for 12 years on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (including as its Chair). She worked on justice issues following the Rwandan genocide.
Political pressure:
In November 2024, Russia issued an arrest warrant against her (in connection with warrants against Russian officials over the 2008 war in Georgia).
In June 2025, the administration of Donald Trump imposed sanctions on her for being among the judges who issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.
3. Socorro Flores Liera (Mexico)
A career diplomat with strong experience in inter-state disputes.
Experience: She served as Mexico’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva.
Founding of the ICC: She was directly involved in the process of establishing the International Criminal Court.
Avena case: She represented Mexico in the landmark case against the United States before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning the rights of 54 Mexican nationals sentenced to death, considered a key case in the protection of individual rights under international law.
