THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Ivory Coast’s ex-president and a former youth minister were released from International Criminal Court custody Friday, more than two weeks after they were acquitted of involvement in deadly violence that erupted after their country’s 2010 election.
Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji said that former President Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Ble Goude should be freed under conditions intended “to protect the integrity of the process.” Prosecutors are expected to appeal their acquittals.
Gbagbo, who smiled broadly and waved to supporters in the court’s gallery after the ruling, was released Friday evening along with Ble Goude. They were taken to an undisclosed location.
Eboe-Osuji instructed court officials to identify a country willing to accept Gbagbo and Ble Goude and to look into “interim measures” that could be taken in the meantime.
Among the conditions imposed, the men must pledge to return to court if they are told to, turn in their passports and not leave the country that agrees to house them, report weekly to police or the court and not contact witnesses or talk to the press about their case.
Gbagbo had been in custody at the court since November 2011. Ble Goude was jailed nearly five years ago.
Jubilant supporters danced and chanted “Released!” in French outside the court.
“We are very happy for Mr. Ble Goude and his family that he’s finally released,” his lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops told reporters at the court. He said Ble Goude likely would be released Friday evening, but it was not clear where or when.
Prosecution lawyers had urged judges to release the men only with conditions to ensure they return to the court for their appeals phase. Defense lawyers had urged their immediate, unconditional release.
Gbagbo’s lawyer, Emmanuel Altit, told judges: “His innocence has been recognized by the judges and it is impossible to limit the freedom of an innocent person.”