On Sunday, President Vahagn Khachaturian signed the decision of the Armenian parliament to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) into law. This action puts Armenia under the jurisdiction of the Hague-based institution, despite warnings from its longtime ally Russia. This move follows Armenia’s announcement on September 1st that it was considering ratifying the Rome Statute of the ICC.
A statement posted on the website of the Armenian presidency announced Khachaturian’s action:
“On October 13, the President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturian signed a statement on the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court signed on July 17, 1998 and on the adoption of a statement ‘On the retroactive recognition of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court by the Republic of Armenia’ based on Article 12, Part 3 of the Statute, the law.”
Armenia’s decision to join the ICC comes against the backdrop of a conflict rooted in the division of the region between Armenia and Azerbaijan by the Soviet Union in the early 20th century, undertaken against the wishes of the predominantly Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. The matters of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the right to self-determination in this dispute are complex issues under international law.
Armenia’s new status as a member of the ICC could empower the court to investigate alleged war crimes committed in Armenia or by Armenian nationals. Crimes with cross-border elements in Nagorno-Karabakh may also potentially fall within the ICC’s jurisdiction. Domestic investigations by Armenia and Azerbaijan may invoke the principle of complementarity in the ICC and serve to deter further escalation of violence. The ICC’s potential involvement could impact future peace negotiations seeking amnesty deals, as the ICC generally shows reluctance to withdraw arrest warrants in exchange for peace agreements, as reported by JURIST.