Armenia’s parliament has ratified the country’s accession to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

This is a move taken as an insult by Russia, since Moscow does not recognize the ICC. It is noted that the International Criminal Court is requesting the extradition and arrest of Russian President, Vladimir Putin, after the invasion of Ukraine.

The International Criminal Court effectively halts the Kremlin strongman’s movements as, pending an arrest warrant, he cannot travel to countries that have recognized him. Already last summer, the Russian President avoided traveling to South Africa for the BRICS summit, while his upcoming trip to Brazil has been widely discussed.

Until recently, Russia played an important role in the Caucasus with the aim of de-escalating the tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan. After the developments in Nagorno-Karabakh and the departure of thousands of Armenians from the enclave, Yerevan’s attitude towards Moscow has changed.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in an interview with Euronews, said that Russia betrayed the Armenians. The Kremlin said that Armenia acted in a manner unbecoming of a partner towards Russia by submitting itself to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a briefing, Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that Moscow treats Yerevan as an ally, but has questions about its current leadership, which will now have to arrest Putin if he visits Armenia, executing the arrest warrant that has been issued against him by the ICC.

Also read: Nagorno Karabakh | The development of an international observation organization in the foreground