Armenia sends Rome Statute to parliament for ratification

MOSCOW

Armenia on Friday sent the Rome Statute, founding treaty of the International Criminal Court (ICC), to the parliament for ratification, a move that would bring it under the jurisdiction of the tribunal based in the Hague.

Armenian Justice Minister Grigor Minasyan in June had announced the government would send the bill for approval in the coming weeks.

It came after the Constitutional Court of Armenia in March said the Rome Statute does not contradict with the Constitution, eliciting a negative reaction from Russia.

Moscow called Yerevan's intentions "absolutely unacceptable," taking into account the ICC arrest warrant against President Vladimir Putin.

The Foreign Ministry said Armenia, a Russian ally, was warned "about the extremely negative" consequences such a move could have on bilateral relations.