Armenia not alone in investigating war crimes - minister 

ArmInfo. Armenia is not alone in the issue of investigations of war crimes, and has the opportunity 

to involve international prosecutors and representatives of law enforcement agencies in this work, Armenia's Minister of Justice Grigor Minasyan told reporters on January 8 as he commented on the need to apply the Roman Statute in investigating international crimes. 

According to the minister, after the ratification of the Roman 

Statute by the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, there 

are still numerous legal normative acts that need to be adopted or 

amended to existing laws. In this context, the experience of various 

states was studied, in particular, the legislation of Georgia and the 

best practices of four states. The first step that needs to be taken 

in this direction concerns the need to develop a new law. "Our 

investigative bodies, studying international experience, have the 

opportunity to involve international prosecutors and law enforcement 

officers in this process, who, by studying these cases in Armenia, 

become part of all proceedings related to war crimes," Minasyan said.

At its meeting on October 3, the National Assembly of the Republic of 

Armenia ratified the Roman Statute of the International Criminal 

Court. According to Armenia's representative for international legal 

affairs, Yeghishe Kirakosyan, the ICC mainly considers crimes of 

genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of 

aggression. The Court may exercise its functions and powers, as 

provided in this Statute, in the territory of any State Party and, by 

special agreement, in the territory of any other State. Kirakosyan 

noted that ratification of this document will make it possible to 

initiate proceedings at the ICC against Azerbaijan for war crimes 

committed in Artsakh, where the forced deportation of the population 

actually took place, as well as for aggression against Armenia. 

Without this document, Armenia had practically no mechanisms to hold 

Baku accountable.

On March 17 of this year, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for 

Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the Armenian side notes 

that the ratification of the document is not directed against Russia.  

Later, a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that the 

Russian side warned their Armenian colleagues about the extremely 

negative consequences of possible accession to the Roman Statute for 

relations with Russia. The Foreign Ministry also added that Moscow 

considers Yerevan's plans to join the Roman Statute of the ICC 

unacceptable against the backdrop of warrants against the leadership 

of the Russian Federation.