In spite of an issued international warrant for his arrest, Putin was met with a prolonged applause in Mongolia.
Vladimir Putin was greeted on Monday at Ulan Bator's airport, the Mongolian capital's main hub, by an honor guard. The reason for his trip is the celebrations honoring the 85th anniversary of the joint victory of Soviet and Mongolian forces over Japan. Putin is set to meet with Mongolian President Uchnaa Khurelsukh during his stay.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Georgiy Tuchynov accused Mongolia of harboring a criminal, implying that the country is complicit in Putin's "war crimes." He added, "We will collaborate with our allies to address any repercussions for Ulan Bator."
The International Criminal Court (ICC) previously underscored its members' "obligation" to capture Putin before his visit. However, the court based in The Hague lacks power if Mongolian authorities fail to cooperate.
Mongolia, sandwiched between Russia and China, was heavily influenced by the Soviet Union in previous times and aims to maintain good relations with Moscow. Mongolia's government did not condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and abstained in UN votes regarding the conflict.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023, citing "reasonable grounds" suggesting he is responsible for the war crime of illegally deporting Ukrainian children to Russia. Ukraine claims that Russian authorities transferred countless children from orphanages and other social institutions to Russia.
Investigative reports uncovered that many Ukrainian children were adopted by Russian families and had their identities altered. These discoveries have led to allegations that Russia seeks to erode the Ukrainian identity of the children. Russian authorities claim they relocated some children from combat zones to Russia for their protection.
Putin's visit to Mongolia is his first trip to an ICC member state since the arrest warrant was issued. In the past, Putin opted not to attend the summit of the BRICS countries, also ICC members, in South Africa, amidst international pressure to apprehend him.
Altantuya Batdorj, director of Amnesty International Mongolia, warned, "By welcoming Putin to an ICC member country without an arrest, Mongolia strengthens President Putin's current stance and should be viewed as part of strategic efforts to undermine the ICC."
Elena Vignoli, of the human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW), stated before Putin's arrival in Ulan Bator that hosting him would be an affront to the victims of Russian forces' crimes and would weaken the principle that no one, regardless of power, is exempt from the law.
Mongolia ratified the Rome Statute, the ICC's constitutional basis, in 2002, following its signing in 2000. In response to criticisms of the Court for issuing an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid allegations of war crimes in Gaza, Mongolia was among the 93 states that expressed their "unwavering support" for the ICC, urging all member states to "fully cooperate" with the Court.
The ICC's statement about Mongolian authorities' obligation to arrest Putin before his visit sparked controversy. The Court of Justice, as an ICC member state, could potentially challenge Putin's visit and uphold its commitment to international law.
