The Armenian National Assembly’s Standing Committee on State-Legal Affairs has given the green light to include the ratification of the Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the legislature’s agenda.

The Rome Statute is the treaty that established the ICC with jurisdiction over certain international crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.  Armenia signed the Rome Statute in 1999 but has not ratified it.

Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan has supported its ratification, arguing it will strengthen Armenia’s security and has nothing to do with Armenia-Russia relations.

Armenia’s Constitutional Court initially found that the Statue did not comply with the country’s 1995 constitution and then, in March 2023, found the Statue complied with the newly amended constitution.

Moscow has warned Armenia not to ratify the Statue. One reason is  Russian President Vladimir Putin would not be allowed into Armenia as local law enforcement would be obligated to detain him according to the ICC issued arrest warrant against him.

The Armenian government argues it can use the ICC to hold Azerbaijan accountable for what it regards as “war crimes” and attacks against Armenia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov today said Moscow doesn’t welcome Armenia’s intention to join the Rome Statue, describing it a “hostile” act towards Russia.

“Armenia knows very well that we are not parties to the [Rome Statute], and Armenia is aware of the difficult decision [of the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin], adopted based on this statute. We know that in Yerevan this is very well known. This is not something that we welcome," Peskov said according to TASS.