YEREVAN: Armenia on Thursday formally joined the Worldwide Prison Courtroom (ICC), officers stated, a transfer which conventional ally Moscow has denounced as unfriendly.
The Hague-based court docket in March issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the conflict in Ukraine and the unlawful deportation of kids to Russia.
Yerevan is now obligated to arrest the Russian chief if he units foot on its territory.
“ICC Rome Statute formally entered into pressure for Armenia on February 1,” the nation’s official consultant for worldwide authorized issues, Yeghishe Kirakosyan, instructed AFP.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated in October that Armenia had taken a “incorrect determination” to ratify ICC’s Rome Statute, and Russian Overseas Ministry has referred to as the transfer an “unfriendly step.”
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sought to assuage Kremlin fears, saying the choice was not directed in opposition to Russia.
Kirakosyan stated, “Becoming a member of the ICC offers Armenia severe instruments to stop conflict crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity on its territory.”
“To begin with, this issues Azerbaijan,” Yerevan’s arch-foe neighbour with which it had fought two wars over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh area.
However Armenia’s transfer illustrated a rising chasm between Moscow and Yerevan, which has grown offended with the Kremlin over its perceived inaction over Armenia’s long-standing confrontation with Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani forces in September swept via Karabakh — the place Russian peacekeepers are deployed — and secured the give up of Armenian separatist forces that had managed the mountainous area for many years.
Armenia signed the Rome Statute in 1999, however didn’t ratify it, citing contradictions with the nation’s structure.
The constitutional court docket stated in March these obstacles had been eliminated after Armenia’s adoption of a brand new structure in 2015.
Final November, Yerevan formally deposited its instrument of ratification of the Rome Statute.
The Hague-based court docket in March issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the conflict in Ukraine and the unlawful deportation of kids to Russia.
Yerevan is now obligated to arrest the Russian chief if he units foot on its territory.
“ICC Rome Statute formally entered into pressure for Armenia on February 1,” the nation’s official consultant for worldwide authorized issues, Yeghishe Kirakosyan, instructed AFP.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated in October that Armenia had taken a “incorrect determination” to ratify ICC’s Rome Statute, and Russian Overseas Ministry has referred to as the transfer an “unfriendly step.”
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sought to assuage Kremlin fears, saying the choice was not directed in opposition to Russia.
Kirakosyan stated, “Becoming a member of the ICC offers Armenia severe instruments to stop conflict crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity on its territory.”
“To begin with, this issues Azerbaijan,” Yerevan’s arch-foe neighbour with which it had fought two wars over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh area.
However Armenia’s transfer illustrated a rising chasm between Moscow and Yerevan, which has grown offended with the Kremlin over its perceived inaction over Armenia’s long-standing confrontation with Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani forces in September swept via Karabakh — the place Russian peacekeepers are deployed — and secured the give up of Armenian separatist forces that had managed the mountainous area for many years.
Armenia signed the Rome Statute in 1999, however didn’t ratify it, citing contradictions with the nation’s structure.
The constitutional court docket stated in March these obstacles had been eliminated after Armenia’s adoption of a brand new structure in 2015.
Final November, Yerevan formally deposited its instrument of ratification of the Rome Statute.
