The two men are to be jointly tried for crimes against humanity committed in their country during post-election violence in 2007-2008. Their trial is set to open on September 10.
“The Judges, while in principle in favour of bringing the ICC’s proceedings closer to the affected communities, concluded that the proceedings in this instance shall be held at the ICC’s headquarters,” says an ICC statement released Monday. “The Judges reached this conclusion after an extensive discussion that considered the observations of all the parties and participants, the ICC Registry’s assessment as well as the positions of the relevant national authorities.”
Factors considered by the judges include “security, the cost of holding proceedings outside The Hague, the potential impact on victims and witnesses, the length of the proceedings to be held away from the seat of the Court, the potential impact on the perception of the Court,” according to the same communiqué.
The ICC has also indicted the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, whose trial is due to start on November 12.
ER/JC