ICC Appeals Chamber to impose conditions on Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé upon their release following their acquittal

Today, 1st February 2019, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "Court") decided unanimously that conditions are to be imposed on Mr Laurent Gbagbo and Mr Charles Blé Goudé upon their release to a State willing to accept them on its territory and willing and able to enforce the conditions set by the Appeals Chamber. These conditions are imposed to protect the integrity of the process. A written Judgment setting out these conditions will be made available later today.

 The Appeals Chamber instructed the ICC Registrar, Mr Peter Lewis, to identify and enter into arrangements with States willing to accept Mr Gbagbo and/or Mr Blé Goudé on their territories and enforce the conditions. The ICC Registrar may also make appropriate and necessary interim arrangements regarding the release with conditions pending the conclusion of agreements with States.

Judgment on the Prosecutor’s appeal against the oral decision of Trial Chamber I pursuant to article 81(3)(c)(i) of the Statute

Background: On 15 January 2019, Trial Chamber I, by majority, Judge Herrera Carbuccia dissenting, acquitted Mr Laurent Gbagbo and Mr Charles Blé Goudé from all charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Côte d'Ivoire in 2010 and 2011. A fully reasoned decision will be issued in writing in due course. The Prosecutor may appeal the decision after the full decision is filed.

On 16 January 2019, Trial Chamber I, by majority, found that there were no exceptional circumstances preventing the release of Mr Gbagbo and Mr Blé Goudé from ICC detention following their acquittal. This decision was appealed by the Prosecutor.

The trial in this case started on 28 January 2016, for alleged charges of crimes against humanity (murder, rape, other inhumane acts or – in the alternative – attempted murder, and persecution) allegedly committed in the context of post-electoral violence in Côte d'Ivoire between 16 December 2010 and 12 April 2011. 231 hearing days were dedicated to the presentation of the Prosecutor's evidence and 82 witnesses testified in court and through video link; thousands of documents were submitted into evidence, hundreds of motions, requests and decisions were filed. On 4 June 2018, the Chamber declared that that the presentation of the evidence of the Prosecutor was closed.

Further information on this case is available here.

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