OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says she spoke today with the Canadian judge facing American sanctions for her work at an international tribunal, without condemning Washington’s decision.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month announced sanctions on International Criminal Court judges including Kimberly Prost for her work on a case involving American troops in Afghanistan.
France immediately condemned the move as an attack on impartial justice, but Ottawa had no reaction for a week, which led to criticism from advocates.
Anand says she spoke with Prost and that she has “the utmost confidence” that Prost is objective and impartial.
Her statement has no criticism toward the U.S. for sanctioning Prost.
Anand’s office said last week that she raised concerns about Prost’s sanctioning when she met in Washington with Rubio the day after he announced that step.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 2, 2025.
Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press