During the UN review of Tajikistan’s human rights record, Belgium called on Dushanbe to reconsider its steps to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and continue cooperating in efforts to combat impunity for serious international crimes.
Belgium’s representative made this recommendation during Tajikistan’s Universal Periodic Review, held in Geneva on 5 November 2026.
The call comes as Tajikistan has taken steps to end its membership in the International Criminal Court system. According to The Diplomat, the Majlisi Namoyandagon, the lower house of parliament, considered a draft resolution on withdrawal at an extraordinary session on 16 September 2026. The publication reported that parliament’s press service had announced only the adoption of “relevant resolutions,” without disclosing details of the reasons for the move or the voting results.
Why Does the Rome Statute Matter?
The Rome Statute is the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court. The Court examines the criminal responsibility of individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression, subject to the conditions governing its jurisdiction.
Tajikistan signed the Rome Statute on 30 November 1998 and deposited its instrument of ratification on 5 May 2000. The Statute entered into force on 1 July 2002.
Withdrawal does not take effect immediately through a domestic decision alone. Under Article 127 of the Statute, a state must notify the UN Secretary-General in writing, and withdrawal generally takes effect one year after the notification is received. In its September report, The Diplomat noted that Tajikistan was still listed as a State Party in the UN treaty database.
The Failure to Arrest Putin
Tajikistan’s relationship with the Court had already become a matter of controversy before its move towards withdrawal.
According to an official statement by the Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court, Pre-Trial Chamber II determined on 19 March 2026 that Tajikistan had failed to fulfil its international obligations under the Rome Statute by not complying with the request to arrest and surrender Vladimir Putin while he was on its territory.
The Court referred Tajikistan’s non-cooperation to the Assembly of States Parties. A representative of Tajikistan was invited to attend a meeting on 6 May 2026 to explain the country’s position on the decision and its future cooperation.
