Media: Armenian leading party MPs to vote against anti-Azerbaijani initiative

The Armenian parliament’s autumn session is expected to be tumultuous as MPs intend to discuss the Rome Statute and the bill presented by the “Hayaqve” initiative.

“The legislative initiative ‘Hayaqve’ [which proposes to criminalise any action aimed at the recognition of Karabakh by Armenia as part of Azerbaijan] is expected to be submitted to parliament in mid-September. It must be approved by a majority vote, however, according to the newspaper, the ruling Civil Contract faction will vote against it,” Caliber.Az reports, citing the Yerevan-based newspaper Zhoghovurd.

“It is also expected to consider the issue of ratifying the Rome Statute, which is now in the government. The Civil Contract party has not yet decided on their actions, because they do not want to aggravate relations with Moscow. That is why the project remains in the government for now,” the publication says.

To recall, Armenia signed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on October 1, 1999, but did not ratify it. The process was interrupted on August 13, 2004, when the document was found to be contrary to the Armenian Constitution. Considering that since then the Constitution has changed twice, Nikol Pashinyan's government decided to resume the process of ratifying the international treaty and for this purpose once again apply to the Constitutional Court.

On March 24, 2023, the Constitutional Court of Armenia ruled that accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is consistent with the current Constitution of the country. In June, information appeared that the Armenian government would send the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to parliament for ratification.