French ICC judge unable to live a normal life

U.S. Sanctions Leave French ICC Judge Unable to Live a Normal Life

The United States has imposed sanctions on a French judge serving at the International Criminal Court (ICC), and France has so far offered no significant pushback. The judge, Nicolas Guillou, has now been designated a Politically Exposed Person (PEP) — a label that has effectively cut him off from essential services.

As a result of the sanctions, Guillou is facing severe restrictions:

• He cannot open or maintain accounts with major U.S. tech companies, including Google, Amazon, and Apple.

• He is unable to make hotel reservations; platforms such as Expedia reportedly cancel his bookings within hours.

• Online shopping through companies like Amazon is blocked.

• He cannot use credit cards issued by Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.

• Access to banking services has been severely disrupted, with non-U.S. banks around the world reportedly closing accounts linked to PEPs under U.S. pressure.

These restrictions have made everyday life nearly impossible for Guillou, raising questions about the reach of U.S. sanctions and the response of allied governments.