"Armenia and Italy Strengthen Judicial Cooperation: Historic Memorandum Signed in Rome" by Carlo Coppola
Bari, November 2025 - A new chapter in Armenia-Italy relations has opened with the signing of an important Memorandum of Understanding between the judicial authorities of the two countries, marking a significant milestone in bilateral cooperation on military justice and legal matters.
Dr. Anna Vardapetyan, Attorney General of the Republic of Armenia, made a working visit to Italy in early November 2025, meeting with the highest Italian judicial authorities in a mission that has strengthened the legal and judicial ties between Rome and Yerevan.
A Strategic Agreement for Bilateral Cooperation
On November 7, 2025, Dr. Vardapetyan and Dr. Maurizio Block, Military Attorney General at the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that establishes an operational framework for enhanced collaboration between Armenian and Italian judicial institutions, with particular focus on military justice and criminal law.
The agreement represents the culmination of a diplomatic process initiated in previous years, when Dr. Block had established productive contacts with the Armenian side, working in direct collaboration with the former head of Armenian diplomacy in Italy, H.E. Tsovinar Hambardzumyan.
Key Areas of Cooperation
The Memorandum outlines broad and diversified areas of cooperation, with the reciprocal exchange of information relating to normative acts and operational practices of the respective judicial systems among its most relevant aspects. This mechanism will enable legal professionals from both countries to compare best practices, share significant experiences, and harmonize approaches in handling complex cases involving military and national security issues.
The signing ceremony was attended by prominent figures from both nations, including H.E. Vladimir Karapetyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Italy, whose role was instrumental in facilitating the diplomatic dialogue. Also present were Grigor Elizbaryan, Military Prosecutor of the Republic of Armenia and Deputy Attorney General, and Yeghiazar Avagyan, also Deputy Attorney General, along with other institutional representatives.
High-Level Meetings in Rome
During her visit, Dr. Vardapetyan met with Pietro Gaeta, Attorney General at the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation. The Armenian Prosecutor expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and emphasized the importance of ongoing cooperation, particularly thanking Italian authorities for the documents and procedural actions provided within the framework of mutual legal assistance requests.
Looking Ahead
The agreement represents another building block in Armenia's strategy of internationalizing its judicial cooperation. In recent years, Yerevan has intensified relations with various European countries to modernize its legal system and strengthen standards for protecting fundamental rights, including in the military sphere.
For Italy, this Memorandum confirms the active role of the Military Attorney General's Office at the Court of Cassation in promoting international partnerships aimed at combating transnational criminal phenomena, ensuring respect for international humanitarian law, and fostering the exchange of specialized expertise in military justice.
The agreement paves the way for future concrete initiatives, including joint training programs for military magistrates, thematic seminars, study missions, and reciprocal technical assistance projects.
.png)
