No commentator, expert, journalist, or official who supports the interests of Russia, for example, will not remind us that Russia’s ally Tajikistan, which is a founding member of the CSTO, is also on the list of countries that have ratified the Rome Statute. Still, they will point to Armenia with the greatest pleasure
On March 17, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an international arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and children’s rights defender Maria Lvova-Belova. A week later, the Constitutional Court of Armenia recognized the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as not contradicting the Constitution.
At the end of last year, the government appealed to the CC regarding the approval of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, signed in 1998 but not yet ratified. In 2004, the CC expressed its opinion about the document signed by Armenia 24 years ago but did not ratify and recognize this document as unconstitutional.
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However, the government decided to appeal to the high court again because, after 2004, the Constitution of Armenia was amended twice. At the end of last year, it became known that Armenia has started a process to approve the Rome Statute if the Constitutional Court has no objections. As is known, the International Criminal Court examines the cases of genocides, military crimes, and crimes against humanity and prosecutes the persons responsible for military aggression. Months ago, the government clarified that they returned to the issue of recognizing the Rome Statute because, according to the rationale of this project, they see an opportunity to call Azerbaijan to account. “The consequences of that aggression are still present because, until today, the armed forces of Azerbaijan are still stationed in different parts of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, in the areas adjacent to civilian settlements,” said the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Grigor Minasyan.
It was assumed that if the CC does not see a contradiction and the RA NA ratifies the International Criminal Court’s charter, then the court can examine the crimes committed by Azerbaijan, even if Baku has not authorized the same document. “If we ratify, then the statute applies to the territory of the Republic of Armenia; that is clear, citizenship is irrelevant,” commented Yeghishe Kirakosyan, Armenia’s representative in international courts, months ago. After the decision to recognize the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as not contradicting the Constitution, Moscow has already reacted. Moscow considers Yerevan’s plans to join the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court unacceptable against the background of “warrants” against the leadership of the Russian Federation. The source of the Russian Foreign Ministry, informed TASS about this on Monday. The agency’s interlocutor also noted that the Armenian side was warned about the “extremely negative” consequences of Yerevan’s possible steps in bilateral relations. The Russian state media did not specify what warning Moscow sent to Yerevan. This one complaint from Moscow is enough to record that it is a rather harsh warning. The authorities of Armenia hardly showed prudence and informed about their plans concerning Azerbaijan in consultations with Moscow months ago. For official Yerevan, it is a significant step to achieve sanctions against Azerbaijan, even just starting the process, regardless of its possible results.
There are no other options left to restrain the President of Azerbaijan, who has lost his mind after the victory in the war. The situation would be utterly different if Armenia had such an ally as Azerbaijan, which enjoys Turkey’s support. Regrettably, Armenia’s strategic ally, Russia, has not directly criticized any illegality of Azerbaijan, which won the war, starting with violating the demands stipulated by the tripartite declaration of November 9. Russia “does not notice” Azerbaijan’s encroachments on the sovereign territory of Armenia.
Moreover, it turned out that the Russians did not know the borders of the Republic of Armenia. Thus they justify their silence about the aggressive actions of Azerbaijan. In other words, this was enough for the Armenian authorities to try to find different ways to restrain Azerbaijan. However, Armenia’s decision has already been politicized, and the Armenian authorities should have foreseen that the reaction from Moscow could be harsh and the possible consequences quite painful. In this atmosphere, is it reasonable to open a new “front” of confrontation with Moscow, has this issue been seriously discussed and analyzed by the Armenian authorities?
Moreover, it turned out that the Russians did not know the borders of the Republic of Armenia. Thus they justify their silence about the aggressive actions of Azerbaijan. In other words, this was enough for the Armenian authorities to try to find different ways to restrain Azerbaijan. However, Armenia’s decision has already been politicized, and the Armenian authorities should have foreseen that the reaction from Moscow could be harsh and the possible consequences quite painful. In this atmosphere, is it reasonable to open a new “front” of confrontation with Moscow, has this issue been seriously discussed and analyzed by the Armenian authorities?
Considering that in recent years, official Moscow has been looking for any opportunity to accuse Armenia of various issues, it should have been clear to the Armenian authorities that this step could become Russia’s “the most creamy” opportunity.
No commentator, expert, journalist, or official who supports the interests of Russia, for example, will not remind us that Russia’s ally Tajikistan, which is a founding member of the CSTO, is also on the list of countries that have ratified the Rome Statute. Still, they will point to Armenia with the greatest pleasure.
Yerevan’s official move will be an additional opportunity to humiliate Armenia.
However, it is clear to everyone that with such propaganda tricks, Moscow seems to be trying to save its own “image” against the background of justified criticism of Russia from its ally Armenia.
Therefore, no matter how honest the efforts of the Armenian authorities are to achieve the fact that the crimes committed by Azerbaijan are investigated in the International Criminal Court, the Armenian authorities are obliged to measure a thousand times in today’s atmosphere and then only cut.
Emma GABRIELYAN
“Aravot” daily newspaper, 30.03.2023
