Mher Margaryan deposits Armenia`s instrument of ratification of ICC  Rome Statute 

ArmInfo. On 14 November, Armenia's instrument of ratification of the Rome Statute of the  International Criminal Court was deposited at the ceremony that took  place at the Treaty Section of the United Nations Office of Legal  Affairs.  

According to the press service of the RA Permanent Mission  to the UN, the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN Mher  Margaryan presented the instrument of ratification to the Director of  the Treaty Section of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs to  be deposited with the UN Secretary-General as the custodian of the  Rome Statute.  By depositing the instrument of ratification, which  marks the final step in the process of accession to the Rome Statute,  Armenia becomes the 124th State Party to the International Criminal  Court.  By depositing its instrument of ratification, which marks the  final step in the process of accession to the Rome Statute, Armenia  becomes the 124th State Party to the International Criminal Court.

At its meeting on October 3, the National Assembly of the Republic of  Armenia ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal  Court. After ratification of the document by parliament, it must be  signed by the president of the country and will come into force 60  days after the completion of internal state procedures.

According to Armenia's representative on international legal matters,  Yeghishe Kirakosyan, the ICC mainly considers crimes of genocide,  crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression. The  Court may exercise its functions and powers, as provided in this  Statute, in the territory of any State Party and, by special  agreement, in the territory of any other State.

Kirakosyan noted that ratification of this document will make it  possible to initiate proceedings at the ICC against Azerbaijan for  war crimes committed in Artsakh, where the forced deportation of the  population actually took place, as well as for aggression against  Armenia. Without this document, Armenia had practically no mechanisms  to hold Baku accountable.

On March 17 of this year, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for  Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the Armenian side notes  that the ratification of the document is not directed against Russia.  Later, a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that the  Russian side warned their Armenian partners about the extremely  negative consequences of possible accession to the Rome Statute for  relations with Russia. 

Russian Foreign Ministry also added that Moscow considers Yerevan's  plans to join the Rome Statute of the ICC unacceptable against the  backdrop of warrants against the leadership of the Russian  Federation.