Zakharova: Yerevan’s participation in the Rome Statute causes direct and practical damage to Armenian-Russian relations

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented during a press briefing on the statement from Armenian partners that Armenia is ready to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to strengthen international legal norms.

“Our attitude to the ICC and Armenia’s accession to it is clear. It is also known to our Armenian partners. However, we must reiterate that Yerevan’s participation in the Rome Statute directly harms Armenian-Russian relations—not just symbolically but in practical terms as well. If Armenia’s cooperation with the ICC genuinely contributed to the strengthening of some international legal norms, it might be understandable and even commendable. However, the 20-year experience of that fake court speaks of the opposite. The ICC has not resolved any conflict it has attempted to address,” Zakharova noted, adding that cooperation with that court only encourages adventurism.