Press Release: 17 November 2023

Armenia joins the ICC Rome Statute

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On 14 November 2023, the Republic of Armenia formally deposited the instrument of ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Statute will enter into force for Armenia on 1 February 2024. Armenia will become the 124th State Party to join the Statute, and the 19th State from the Eastern European group to do so.  

Additionally, on 15 November 2023, the ICC Registrar, Osvaldo Zavala Giler, received a communication from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, H.E. Ararat Mirzoyan, informing the ICC that, on 3 October 2023, the Parliament of Armenia adopted the law on ratifying the Rome Statute, subsequently signed on 13 October 2023 by the President of Armenia, and in force as of 17 October 2023.   

In his communication to the ICC, Minister Mirzoyan furthermore indicated that, by virtue of the law adopted by the Parliament, the Republic of Armenia retroactively accepts the ICC's jurisdiction since 10 May 2021. The declaration is lodged under article 12(3) of the Rome Statute and the Minister’s communication highlights that "the Republic of Armenia commits to cooperate with the Court fully and without delay."

Letter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, H.E. Ararat Mirzoyan,15 November 2023 

Note verbale of the Embassy of Armenia to the Netherlands, 15 November 2023 

Law on ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, done on 17 July 1998, and on adopting declaration “on retroactively recognising the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court by the Republic of Armenia” on the basis of paragraph 3 of article 12 of the Statute : English; Armenian  


For further information, please contact Sonia  Robla, Chief of the Public Information and Outreach Section, International Criminal Court, by telephone at+31 (0)6 46448726  or by e-mail at: [email protected]  

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