Russia considers the joining of its ally Armenia to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) an absolutely unfriendly move, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told RBC

According to him, "it is obvious to everyone that the ICC  has nothing to do with justice in the true sense of the word."

"This is a politicized pro-Western organization that executes the orders of the prosecution of figures that the West does not like. Some time ago, this court issued an arrest warrant against the representatives of the Russian top leadership. I should note in parenthesis that, of course, those orders are absolutely legally null and void. Amid the completely politicized hostile stance of the ICC towards Russia and its leadership, our ally Armenia decides to ratify the statute of this court. How should we [Russia] perceive such a move? Only as unfriendly, to put it mildly," Galuzin said.

According to him, Russia hoped that Armenia would refrain from such a move.

"The same rules of the ICC enable for countries that have not signed the Rome Statute for some reason, it is quite possible to apply to the services of this court, even without ratifying the Rome Statute. In this paradigm, I don't see the possibility of taking Armenia's proposal seriously," said the Russian diplomat, commenting on the proposal of the Armenian side to sign a bilateral agreement on this matter.

"I repeat once again: you quote the proposal of the Armenian side that amid the ICC’s absolutely illegal, unjust, politicized actions which are expressed in the issuance of so-called ‘[arrest] warrants,’ we will look for ways to protect ourselves from a priori illegal decisions which we do not accept; that's what it's all about. And in this context, we consider the joining of our ally Armenia to the Rome Statute as an absolutely unfriendly move amid the aforementioned order. I don't see a place for dialogue here," he said, adding that there were consultations with Armenia on this matter.

"We made certain proposals. But, apparently, either Yerevan is still thinking about them, or they have decided not to accept [them]," said the Russian deputy FM.

To note, on October 3, the National Assembly of Armenia ratified the Rome Statute.