Armenia ratifies ICC Rome Statute moving step further away from Russia

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Oct 2023 22:33

The Armenian Parliament ratifies the Rome Statute in a 60-22 vote, and Moscow comments on the decision.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the Eurasian Economic Union Forum at the Kremlin, in Moscow, Russia, on May 25, 2023 (Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Bringing Armenia under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the parliament in Yerevan ratified the Rome Statute as the country pivots closer to the West and is a step away from its decade-long allyship with Russia.

Given that the ICC has issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenia, who is now closer to becoming a member of the Court, is expected, as are other members, to arrest Putin if he were to land on its territory.

In that regard, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has dubbed the ratification as "wrong", highlighting, "We absolutely do not agree with the words of Armenian Prime Minister [Nikol] Pashinyan that Armenia's decision to join the Rome Statute is due to the "inadequacy" of the CSTO and the Armenian-Russian partnership's tools to ensure Armenia's security."

Moreover, Peskov stressed that "it is not so. And I think that, in the end, the majority in Armenia understands that the tools of the CSTO and the Armenian-Russian partnership are absolutely irreplaceable at this moment."

In Yerevan, the vote highlighted a growing schism as 22 of the Armenian opposition voted against the ratification while 60 voted for it. The schism underscored Armenia's need to position itself on the global stage amid the current critical juncture.

The Armenian President must now have 60 days to sign the ratification before it goes into effect.

It is important to note that Yerevan has been witnessing mass protests since Pashinyan announced the recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh leading to mass arrests while simultaneously an exodus of ethnic Armenians that left the region after the Azeri military entered Nagorno-Karabakh as part of a military operation to allegedly secure the region.

The Rome Statute was established in 1998, and in 1999 Armenia signed the statute but did not ratify it given clear constitutional contradictions. However, in 2015, Armenia adopted a new constitution after which the Constitutional Court declared the obstacles were cleared for a ratification vote.

Nagorno-Karabakh to no longer exist as institutions set to dissolve

The President of the unrecognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), Samvel Shahramanyan, signed on September 28 a decree that dictates the termination of the existence of the republic he heads.

"Based on the priority of ensuring the physical security and vital interests of the people of Karabakh, taking into account the agreement reached through the mediation of the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent with representatives of Azerbaijan that free, voluntary, and unimpeded passage of residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, including military personnel who have laid down their arms, with their property is ensured on their vehicles along the Lachin corridor ... a decision was made: to dissolve all state institutions and organizations under their departmental subordination until January 1, 2024," the decree read.

The decree added that subsequently, "the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) ceases to exist."

According to reports, the decree is set to take effect immediately after publication.