Russia’s Security Council links Armenia’s ICC membership to its drive for closer ties with the EU

Armenia’s accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is linked, among other things, to Yerevan’s course toward rapprochement with the European Union, the press service of the Russian Security Council’s staff said.

It also noted that when ratifying the document, the Armenian authorities explained the decision by the possibility of an international investigation of crimes committed during periods of escalation in border conflicts. However, according to the information available to the Security Council, the republic has not yet initiated such an investigation. The Security Council’s staff also stated that recognition of the ICC’s jurisdiction is “one of the key political conditions” for states seeking to join the EU.