This decision was described as “unfriendly” by Russia, Yerevan’s traditional ally with whom relations have become considerably strained.
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Armenia has formally become the 124th member country of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Armenian representative for legal affairs Yegishe Kirakosyan announced on Thursday, January 31. A recently judged decision “bad” And “unfriendly” by Russia, its traditional ally with which relations have become considerably strained.
In March, the international tribunal based in The Hague issued an arrest warrant against the Russian president for having organized or authorized the “illegal deportation” of Ukrainian children to Russia. Yerevan is now required to arrest Vladimir Putin if he sets foot on its territory. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan tried to allay the Kremlin’s fears, assuring that the decision was not directed against Russia.
Protection against Azerbaijan
“By joining the ICC, Armenia is equipping itself with serious tools to prevent war crimes and crimes against humanity on its territory”according to Yegishe Kirakosyan. “This concerns Azerbaijan above all”who won a lightning military victory in Nagorno-Karabakh in September and obtained the surrender of Armenian separatist forces who had controlled the region for decades. Yerevan hopes that its membership will offer it additional protection against its neighbor.
Armenia signed the Rome Statute in 1999, founding text of the court, but had not ratified it, citing contradictions with the country’s constitution. The Constitutional Court said in March that these obstacles were removed after Armenia adopted a new constitution in 2015.
