Mongolia Refuses to Arrest Putin Despite ICC Warrant Issued During State Visit
The European Union, human rights groups, and Ukraine have all urged Mongolia to enforce an international arrest warrant.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Mongolia’s president on Tuesday without being arrested on a warrant for alleged war crimes related to the Ukraine conflict, despite international calls for his arrest.
Upon arriving in Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, Putin was warmly greeted by Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, as seen in video footage.
“Relations with Mongolia are a top priority in our foreign policy in Asia. They have reached a high level of comprehensive strategic partnership,” Putin told Khurelsukh, as reported on the Kremlin’s website.
Putin emphasized the development of relations between Russia and Mongolia in various areas, including politics and economics.
Khurelsukh expressed his happiness at Putin’s visit, according to Russian state-run media. The two leaders signed bilateral agreements, as shown in documents on the Kremlin’s website here.
“Over the past four to five years, our countries and our peoples have jointly overcome the difficulties that befell us during this period,” Khurelsukh said, as reported by state-run media.
An ICC arrest warrant issued against Putin last year obligates member states, including Mongolia, to arrest him if he visits their territory.
Ukrainian officials, the European Union, and various human rights groups had urged Mongolia to arrest Putin. Mongolia did not indicate any intention to do so before his visit.
The Mongolian government has close ties with Russia and China economically and relies on them for energy. The country, formerly communist, transitioned to a democracy and market-based economy in the 1990s.
Putin noted that most of Mongolia’s diesel and gas comes from Russia. Mongolia is on the planned route of a major gas pipeline that Russia wants to construct to supply China.
Dmitry Medvedev criticized the ICC warrant as “illegal,” stating that only “some madman” would try to carry it out. He posted this on social media on Sept. 3.
A ‘Heavy Blow’
Not arresting Putin represents a “heavy blow” to the international criminal justice system, according to Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi.
“Mongolia allowed the indicted criminal to escape justice, thereby sharing responsibility for his war crimes. We will work with partners to ensure that this has consequences for Ulaanbaatar,” he said.
The ICC warrant accuses Putin of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine, a claim the Kremlin denies, calling it politically motivated.
The EU expressed regret that Mongolia didn’t comply with the ICC’s obligation, vowing to support efforts for full accountability for war crimes related to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
About 120 countries signed the ICC statute, but several major nations, including the US, Russia, China, India, and Israel, have not ratified it.
Earlier this year, the ICC drew controversy for signaling it would seek a warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defense minister, and Hamas leaders.
US officials publicly criticized the ICC statement.
Reuters contributed to this report.
