The International Criminal Court on Thursday said former Ivory
Coast President Laurent Gbagbo can leave Belgium under certain
conditions following his acquittal last year over post-electoral
violence that killed 3,000 people.
Gbagbo and his deputy Charles Ble Goude were both cleared of
crimes against humanity a year ago, eight years after the former
West African strongman’s arrest and transfer to the Hague-based
court.
Belgium agreed to host Gbagbo, 73, after he was released in
February under strict conditions including that he would return to
court for a prosecution appeal against his acquittal.
However, Gbagbo and Ble Goude cannot “travel beyond the
territorial limits of the municipality of the receiving State
without the explicit and prior authorisation of the Court,” an ICC
statement said Thursday.
Ble Goude, who lives in The Hague, was released under similar
conditions as Gbagbo.
Gbagbo’s lawyers had in February appealed for his unconditional
release arguing the ICC could not limit the movements of an
acquitted person.
The Hague-based court on Thursday rejected the demand but said
Gbagbo and Ble Goude could travel out of the countries they were
currently residing in but have to “surrender all identity
documents, particularly their passports” to the ICC.
They would also have to report weekly to the law enforcement
authorities of the receiving states, it said.
(AFP)
The International Criminal Court on Thursday said former Ivory
Coast President Laurent Gbagbo can leave Belgium under certain
conditions following his acquittal last year over post-electoral
violence that killed 3,000 people.
Gbagbo and his deputy Charles Ble Goude were both cleared of
crimes against humanity a year ago, eight years after the former
West African strongman’s arrest and transfer to the Hague-based
court.
Belgium agreed to host Gbagbo, 73, after he was released in
February under strict conditions including that he would return to
court for a prosecution appeal against his acquittal.
However, Gbagbo and Ble Goude cannot “travel beyond the
territorial limits of the municipality of the receiving State
without the explicit and prior authorisation of the Court,” an ICC
statement said Thursday.
Ble Goude, who lives in The Hague, was released under similar
conditions as Gbagbo.
Gbagbo’s lawyers had in February appealed for his unconditional
release arguing the ICC could not limit the movements of an
acquitted person.
The Hague-based court on Thursday rejected the demand but said
Gbagbo and Ble Goude could travel out of the countries they were
currently residing in but have to “surrender all identity
documents, particularly their passports” to the ICC.
They would also have to report weekly to the law enforcement
authorities of the receiving states, it said.
(AFP)