Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has refused to give any assurances regarding the possible arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin during a possible visit to Armenia, following the country's recent accession to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In a recent interview with the British Daily Telegraph, Pashinyan was asked about the possibility of Putin's arrest during such a visit. His vague response, citing legal complexities and the responsibility of Armenian law enforcement and courts, has fueled speculation and heightened tensions. Pashinyan's government claims that joining the ICC is aimed at taking legal action against Azerbaijan and preventing further attacks on Armenia. Opposition politicians, however, argue that the move is a strategic effort to drive a wedge between Russia and Armenia.
"As for the legal intricacies, I can't make a legal analysis at the moment, because that's more the job of the lawyers," he replied vaguely. "As I said, Armenia … must remain committed to all its international obligations, including the obligations it has in relations with the Russian Federation and in international relations."
The ratification of the ICC's Rome Statute by Armenia's Constitutional Court in March, just a week after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin for alleged war crimes during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has exacerbated already strained relations between Yerevan and Moscow. Although Russian officials denounced the move as "unfriendly" and predicted serious damage to Russian-Armenian relations, Putin appeared to downplay the situation and expressed his intention to visit Armenia again in the future.
As Pashinyan's comments continue to echo, Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, stressed the need for "certain assurances" before the Russian leader would consider travelling to Armenia. The situation remains unresolved and requires bilateral dialogue to address the complex legal and diplomatic implications of Armenia's accession to the ICC in the context of the delicate Armenia-Russia relationship.