Armenia listened to Russia's fears because of Yerevan's plans to ratify the Rome Statute (Treaty on the International Criminal Court, ICC). Hakob Arshakyan, vice-speaker of the republic's parliament, stated this in an interview with Armenpress.

According to him, the Armenian government approved the draft law on joining the ICC back in December 2022. Yerevan wanted to recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC in connection with the intention to hold Azerbaijan accountable for the "aggression" against Armenia.

Arshakyan assured that Armenia is capable of acting without damaging the strategic relations between the two countries. He pointed out that, in particular, it is possible to sign an appropriate legal agreement with any country, according to which the Rome Statute will not affect bilateral relations. He also assured that the decision under the Rome Statute does not find anyone guilty in any matter and does not require anyone to be arrested.

On March 17, the ICC issued warrants for the "arrest" of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Armenia's accession to the ICC could have negative consequences for relations between Moscow and Yerevan. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow has never cooperated and will not cooperate with the ICC, stressing that the actions of the court in relation to the Russians are legally null and void. Russian Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev called the "arrest" of the president abroad tantamount to a declaration of war.