PHOTO: INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT:
© 2025. IMAGE SOURCE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Author: Apolline Massez, Peace Dialogue NGO
ABSTRACT
This paper examines Armenia’s accession to the ICC amid evolving peace negotiations with Azerbaijan. It explores the legal and political obstacles to accountability and proposes alternative mechanisms for promoting justice and sustainable peace in the region.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In February 2024, Armenia became the 120th State Party to the Rome Statute, signalling its commitment to strengthening international justice mechanisms amid ongoing regional tensions. However, peace negotiations with Azerbaijan and mounting external pressures, particularly from Russia, have challenged Armenia’s ability to fully leverage its ICC membership. Although legally empowered to refer cases to the Court, Armenia has hesitated, fearing political escalation and constrained by the draft peace agreement’s rejection of international judicial involvement. Additional legal challenges, such as limitations on the ICC’s temporal and territorial jurisdiction, further complicate prospects for accountability. Alternative pathways—such as transitional justice, hybrid tribunals, and universal jurisdiction—offer potential, albeit limited, mechanisms for addressing past atrocities. Ultimately, Armenia faces a critical decision: whether to uphold its obligations under international law and pursue justice for its citizens, or to prioritize short-term political stability at the cost of long-term peace and accountability.
See the full publication under the link below: THE ARMENIAN PATH TOWARD A REFERRAL TO THE ICC (Adobe PDF, 704 Kb)
