Armenia's Defiance: Joining ICC Strains Ties with Russia

The Armenian parliament has voted to join the International Criminal Court (ICC), a move that is expected to strain its relationship with Russia. The decision means that Armenia, in theory, would be obliged to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he were to enter their territory, as he has been indicted for war crimes connected to the deportation of children from Ukraine. The vote comes amid tensions between Armenia and Russia over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, with Armenia accusing Russian "peacekeeping" troops of failing to prevent hostilities that allowed Azerbaijan to take control of the region. The decision has been criticized by Russia, while France has expressed support for Armenia's move.