Armenia ratifies Rome Statute amid Russian dissent

Armenia has taken a significant step on the world stage, making headlines as the nation's Parliament gives the nod to the Rome Statute of the ICC (International Criminal Court), as reported by Euronews. The decision is celebrated by many as a commitment to international justice but has sown seeds of discord with Russia, marking a tense chapter in the two nations' relations.

In a decisive moment that echoed through the halls of the Armenian Parliament, 60 deputies cast their vote in favor of the ratification against the opposition of 20 others. "The decision has been made," announced Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan on Wednesday, his statement echoing the resolute nature of the move.

But as Armenia embraces the jurisdiction of the ICC, a cloud of contention looms with Russia. Earlier, as reported by the international press, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov labeled the endorsement as "extremely hostile."

The roots of this hostility trace back to the ICC's warrant for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of war crimes, casting a long shadow over Armenia's decision.

Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stands unwavering amidst the Kremlin's stern gaze. Pashinyan asserted that the allegiance to the international court is a stride towards fortifying the country's security, an initiative not aimed at fanning the flames with Russia.

However, the Kremlin reads a different story from the same page. Moscow interprets Armenia's new alliance with the ICC as a move that not only strains their bilateral ties but could also instigate a broader geopolitical rift. Given the Rome Statute's implications, the Kremlin fears this could culminate in the arrest of Putin if he steps onto Armenian soil, intensifying the geopolitical friction.