Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan has given his approval to the parliament’s decision to join the International Criminal Court (ICC), a move that has further strained the nation’s relationship with its longstanding ally, Russia.
Last week, the Armenian parliament cast its vote in favor of joining the ICC by ratifying the Rome Statute, which established the tribunal.
Nations that have both signed and ratified the Rome Statute are obligated to detain Russian President Vladimir Putin, who stands accused of war crimes related to the deportation of children from Ukraine, should he ever step on their soil.
Moscow responded to Yerevan’s decision by deeming it an “unfriendly step” and summoned Armenia’s ambassador. Armenia, in response, sought to reassure Russia that Putin would not be apprehended should he enter the country.
Armenian officials have contended that this decision is unrelated to Russia and stems from what they perceive as Azerbaijan’s aggression towards their nation.
The parliamentary vote in favor of ratifying the Rome Statute was 60-22, with the decision coming into force 60 days after ratification, according to Armenian lawmakers.
Armenia initiated the process of joining the ICC over two decades ago. However, in 2004, the Constitutional Court ruled that the Rome Statute conflicted with the country’s constitution at that time, halting the process. The constitution has since been amended twice. In March, the Constitutional Court confirmed that the obligations outlined by the Rome Statute for its signatories align with Armenia’s existing constitution.
Yegishe Kirakosyan, Armenia’s envoy on international legal matters, cited Azerbaijan’s alleged actions against Armenia as the motivation for Yerevan’s decision to resume the process of joining the ICC. Last month, Azerbaijan decisively defeated ethnic Armenian separatist forces in Nagorno-Karabakh and regained control of the enclave.
