Armenia ratifies its membership in the International Criminal Court, angering Russia

The Armenian Parliament on Tuesday ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The decision came after brief debate over the project angered Russia, the country’s traditional ally, with which relations have been significantly strained since Azerbaijan reclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan.

Elected officials voted in favor of ratification by 60 votes to 22. Russia reacted very negatively to this project: in the spring, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine. The Russian presidency considered even consideration of membership to be “extremely hostile.” “We, of course, hope that these decisions will not have a negative impact on our bilateral relations,” added presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov.

Provide a “deterrent effect” against a potential invasion

Egiche Kirakosyan, an Armenian official responsible for international justice affairs, believes that joining the ICC “creates additional guarantees for Armenia” against Azerbaijan, which just scored a lightning military victory. Ratification of this statute ensures that a potential invasion of Armenia “will fall within the jurisdiction of the ICC,” which will have a “deterrent effect.”

Relations between Armenia and Russia are experiencing a period of turbulence, with the former accusing the latter of abandoning it in the face of Azerbaijan, which is much richer and better armed, which the Kremlin denies. In recent months, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has turned to the West for help and even organized military exercises with the United States.