On 28 January, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni said in a message posted on social media that she had been placed under judicial investigation following a government decision to release a Libyan militia leader, Osama Najeem (aka al-Masri) wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Meloni said that she had been placed under investigation by Rome’s chief prosecutor, Francesco Le Voi, for allegedly aiding and abetting a crime and misuse of public funds.
Shortly afterwards, the ICC demanded an explanation, saying it had not been consulted over the decision to release al-Masri.