Putin Visits Mongolia Amid ICC Arrest Warrant Pressures

Putin’s Historic Visit to Mongolia Amid ICC Arrest Warrant

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin embarked on a significant visit to Mongolia, marking his first trip to a country that is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Upon his arrival in Ulaan Bator late that day, he was welcomed by Mongolia’s Foreign Minister Batmunkh Battsetseg, rather than the country’s president, Ukhnaa Khurelsukh.

This official visit comes in the context of an international arrest warrant that was issued for Putin nearly 18 months ago, accusing him of committing war crimes in Ukraine. During this trip, Putin and Khurelsukh are scheduled to participate in a ceremony on Tuesday commemorating the 1939 victory of Soviet and Mongolian forces over the Japanese army, which had occupied Manchuria in northeastern China. The conflict resulted in the loss of thousands of soldiers over several months as both sides disputed the border between Manchuria and Mongolia. Prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Mongolia was closely aligned with Moscow as a Soviet satellite state.

EU and Ukraine Demand Action Against Putin

As news of Putin’s visit emerged, calls for his arrest intensified. Ukraine urged the Mongolian government to detain Putin and hand him over to the ICC in The Hague. Kyiv’s foreign ministry expressed hope that Mongolia would recognize Putin as a war criminal. The European Commission also joined the chorus, urging Mongolia to fulfill its obligations under the ICC and arrest Putin. A spokesperson for the Commission stated, “Mongolia has been a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC since 2002, and we have conveyed our concerns regarding this visit through our delegation in Mongolia.” The spokesperson emphasized the EU’s support for the ICC’s investigation into war crimes in Ukraine and called for cooperation from all state parties.

Despite the mounting pressure, a spokesperson for Putin indicated last week that the Kremlin was not concerned about the visit. While ICC member states are obligated to detain individuals with active arrest warrants, the court lacks any enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance.

Charges Against Putin: Abduction Allegations

The ICC has accused Putin of orchestrating the abduction of children from Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict, which has persisted for over two and a half years. Since the arrest warrant was issued in March 2023, Putin has refrained from traveling to ICC member countries. Although he has faced growing international isolation due to the invasion of Ukraine, he managed to visit North Korea and Vietnam last month and has made two trips to China within the past year. Notably, he opted to attend a summit of BRICS nations via video link last year, after South Africa, an ICC member, actively lobbied against his attendance to avoid diplomatic repercussions.

The Kremlin’s Stance on ICC Jurisdiction

Russia, not being a party to the Rome Statute, has dismissed the ICC’s warrant for Putin as “null and void.” The Kremlin has expressed discontent over the actions of its allies considering membership in the ICC. The decision by Armenia to join the ICC last year exacerbated tensions between Moscow and Yerevan, although Armenian officials quickly reassured Russia that Putin would not be arrested if he visited their country.

Fadi El Abdallah, an ICC spokesperson, reiterated on Friday that Mongolia “is a state party to the ICC Rome Statute” and thus has a legal obligation to cooperate with the court. He stated, “The ICC relies on its States Parties and other partners to execute its decisions, including in relation to arrest warrants.” El Abdallah added that in cases of non-compliance, ICC judges can issue a finding of non-cooperation and inform the Assembly of States Parties, which can then decide on appropriate measures, although specifics were not detailed.

Mongolia, a sparsely populated nation situated between Russia and China, relies heavily on Russia for energy resources and on China for investments in its mining sector. In June, the country was among 94 nations that signed a joint statement reaffirming their “unwavering support” for the ICC, following backlash against Prosecutor Karim Khan for seeking arrest warrants against Israeli officials and Hamas leaders. Notably, one of the sitting judges of the ICC, Erdenebalsuren Damdin, hails from Mongolia.

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