In spite of an international warrant for his arrest, Putin journeys to Mongolia.
Justification for Putin's Mongolia Visit: The 85th commemoration of the triumph of Soviet and Mongolian military forces over Japan is being celebrated, and Putin is planned to engage with Mongolian President Uchnaa Khurelsukh.
In the recent past, Kyiv encouraged Mongolian authorities to execute the warrant for Putin's arrest. Meanwhile, the ICC emphasized that its members have a "duty" to apprehend suspects desired by the tribunal in The Hague. However, the ICC holds limited power if Mongolian authorities refuse compliance.
Nestled between Russia and China, Mongolia witnessed Soviet influence during the Soviet era. Post the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the country has endeavored to maintain harmonious relationships with both Moscow and Beijing. The Mongolian administration in Ulan Bator has avoided criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has abstained from voting in UN sessions concerning the conflict.
The ICC mandated an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023, asserting that there are "grounds sufficient to suspect" that Putin is implicated in the war crime of illegally deporting Ukrainian children to Russia. The Ukrainian government accuses Russian authorities of shifting thousands of children from Ukrainian orphanages and other public institutions to Russia.
Investigative reports have demonstrated that Ukrainian children have been adopted by Russian families, with their identities being subsequently altered, and Moscow being accused of attempting to eliminate the Ukrainian identity of these children. Russian authorities argue that they relocated some children from conflict zones to Russia for their own safety.
Putin's visit to Mongolia marks his first trip to an ICC member state since the issuance of the arrest warrant. Previously, the Kremlin claimed that Putin harbored "no apprehensions" about a potential arrest in Mongolia.
Last year, Putin withdrew from the summit of the so-called BRICS countries in South Africa, which is also an ICC state, following international pressure to execute the arrest warrant against Putin. Prior to this incident, the South African government faced international scrutiny for failing to implement the arrest warrant against Putin.
Altantuya Batdorj, director of Amnesty International Mongolia, voiced concerns about emboldening Putin due to inaction: "Every visit to an ICC member country that does not result in an arrest will bolster President Putin in his current course and must be viewed as part of strategic efforts to undermine the work of the ICC."
Elena Vignoli of Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated prior to Putin's arrival in Ulan Bator that welcoming the Kremlin chief would represent "a direct affront to the numerous victims of the crimes committed by Russian forces" and would jeopardize the fundamental principle that no individual, regardless of their power, is exempt from the law.
Mongolia ratified the Rome Statute, the fundamental legal framework for the ICC, in 2002. Following criticism of the court over an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in the Gaza conflict, Mongolia was among the 93 nations that publicly expressed their "unwavering support" for the ICC and urged all member states to collaborate fully with the court.
Despite the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023, Mongolia, as a member state, has not indicated any intention to comply with the warrant. Despite international pressure and previous instances of criticism for inaction, Mongolia continues to welcome Putin, potentially emboldening him further.
