Refusal of ICC request - protection of national security

Principality of Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein - Cooperation with the ICC 2004 EN

I. General Provisions

Article 10
Obligation to consult and rejection of requests from the International Criminal Court

(1) Matters arising shall be resolved through consultations with the International Criminal Court, in particular where the execution of a request from the International Criminal Court would:

(b) prejudice national security (articles 72 and 93(4) of the Rome Statute);

II. Specific provisions

B. Judicial assistance; procedural provisions

Article 20
Disclosure and transmission of photocopies and information

(2) Should the documents relate to national security, the International Criminal Court shall be consulted to ascertain whether the information could be provided by another source or in another form.

(3) Should the matter not be settled through the consultations in paragraph 2 above, the Government, prior to granting access to records or the transmission of photocopies, shall check whether the interests of confidentiality significantly outweigh the interests of providing evidence for an international prosecution. Should that be the case, the International Criminal Court shall be asked to ensure the maintenance of confidentiality and for details as to how it will be maintained. This manner of proceeding shall be followed mutatis mutandis for International Tribunals, when documents are subject to particular confidentiality restrictions or relate to national security.

(4) The Government shall check whether the assurance given as to maintaining confidentiality is to be deemed sufficient. Access to records or the transmission of photocopies is to be refused where confidentiality cannot be ensured and if there are concerns that disclosure could prejudice national security.

(5) Paragraphs 2 to 4 above shall also apply where a person who has been called upon to provide information or evidence refuses to do so on the grounds that disclosure would prejudice national security.

(6) Prior to being questioned on the basis of a request for judicial assistance from the International Criminal Court, a person shall be informed of his or her right to refuse to answer in order to prevent the disclosure of confidential information relating to national security. This shall be noted in the record. The admissibility of the request for judicial assistance in such cases shall be decided upon in the light of paragraphs 2 to 4 above.

II. Specific provisions

E. Enforcement of sentences of imprisonment in Liechtenstein

Article 35
Procedure for acceptance of enforcement of sentence

(2) The Ministry of Justice may only refuse to accept a person as referred to in paragraph 1 above for the enforcement of a sentence of imprisonment if it would give rise to unacceptable consequences for the security and public order of the Principality of Liechtenstein. The decision of the Ministry of Justice is not open to appeal.

Rome Statute

Article 93 Other forms of cooperation

4. In accordance with article 72, a State Party may deny a request for assistance, in whole or in part, only if the request concerns the production of any documents or disclosure of evidence which relates to its national security.