Moscow says Armenia's ICC move strains ties with Russia

Yerevan's accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) directly harms Russian-Armenian relations, said Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

The diplomat emphasized that Russia's attitude toward the "so-called ICC" is well known, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"Our position on the ICC, as well as on Armenia's accession to this so-called body, is well known, including to our Armenian colleagues," she stated. "We are forced to reiterate that Yerevan's participation in the Rome Statute, against the backdrop of the Hague's quasi-warrants for the arrest of several Russian officials, directly damages Russian-Armenian relations."

Zakharova added that this harm is not merely symbolic but also has practical implications.

"If Armenia's cooperation with the ICC could genuinely contribute to strengthening certain international legal norms, it might be understandable, even welcome. However, two decades of this pseudo-court's practice prove otherwise. The ICC has failed to resolve a single conflict it has engaged with," the diplomat concluded.

Notably, on November 14, 2023, Armenia officially handed over the document of ratification of the Rome Statute, and from February 1, 2024, the country joined the International Criminal Court. Armenia becomes the 124th State Party to join the Statute, and the 19th State from the Eastern European group to do so.

A formal ceremony to mark Armenia's accession took place at the ICC headquarters in The Hague on February 8, 2024.  

By Khagan Isayev