International Criminal Court President Visits Armenia for the First Time

The Prosecutor General of Armenia, Anna Vardapetyan, hosted the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Tomoko Akane, on May 5, 2026. The meeting was also attended by Armenia's Ambassador to the Netherlands, Viktor Biagov, the head of the ICC office, Hirad Abtahin, and other officials.

Welcoming the guest, Anna Vardapetyan emphasized that this is the first visit of the current ICC president to Armenia, highlighting the willingness of both parties to deepen their cooperation. It is noteworthy that Armenia officially joined the ICC on February 1, 2024, becoming the 124th country to accede to the Rome Statute and the 19th from the Eastern European group.

During the discussion, the importance of strengthening institutional partnerships was underlined, particularly regarding the development of prosecutors' professional skills in the investigation of international crimes. The conversation also touched upon issues related to the acquisition of evidence within criminal proceedings, as well as the protection of witnesses and victims.

The Prosecutor General expressed interest in conducting joint training with the ICC, expanding technical cooperation, and exchanging experiences. The necessity of adopting a victim-centered approach in criminal cases was emphasized. Anna Vardapetyan and Tomoko Akane reaffirmed their commitment to build transparent cooperation mechanisms and continue the dialogue.