Putin’s Visit to Mongolia: ICC and Ukraine Demand Arrest, Kremlin Remains Unfazed

Vladimir Putin, facing an international arrest warrant for alleged illegal deportation of Ukrainian children, is scheduled to visit Mongolia on Tuesday. This marks the first time he will visit an ICC member state since the warrant was issued, making the country legally obligated to arrest him. The International Criminal Court (ICC) spokesperson, Fadi el-Abdallah, stated that Mongolia, as a signatory to the Rome Statute, is bound to cooperate with the court. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry urged Mongolian authorities to extradite Putin to the ICC in The Hague. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed concerns, assuring that Russia enjoys excellent dialogue with its Mongolian counterparts and that all aspects of the visit have been carefully prepared. While the ICC can raise concerns with the Assembly of States Parties if a member state fails to fulfill its obligations, the sanctions are limited to verbal reprimands. In the past, other individuals subject to ICC arrest warrants, such as former Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir, visited signatory countries without facing repercussions. Mongolia signed the Rome Statute in 2000 and ratified it in 2002. The arrest warrant, issued on March 17, 2023, accuses Putin of war crimes related to the illegal deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia. Russia, which does not recognize the ICC, has consistently rejected accusations against Putin. Putin has avoided several international trips since the warrant’s issuance, including the BRICS summit in South Africa and the G20 summit in India. However, he has visited countries not party to the ICC, such as China, North Korea, and Azerbaijan. In Mongolia, Putin is expected to meet with President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and participate in celebrations marking the 85th anniversary of the Soviet and Mongolian victory over Japan in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol in 1939. His last visit to Mongolia was in September 2019. Mongolia, sandwiched between Russia and China, is a resource-rich nation, attracting interest from both countries, as well as the United States. In early August, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Mongolia, highlighting its importance as a strategic partner. France also strengthened bilateral ties with Mongolia in May 2023, focusing on energy cooperation.