Russian President Vladimir Putin Visits Mongolia, Undeterred by ICC Arrest Warrant

Last updated on September 3rd, 2024 at 08:56 am

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Mongolia on Tuesday, Sept. 3, flouting an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.

The trip is Putin’s first to an ICC member nation since the Netherlands-based international body issued his arrest warrant in March of 2023, on claims he unlawfully ordered Ukrainian children to be relocated to Russia, amid their ongoing war.

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which establishes the ICC, requires its members to enforce the court’s arrest warrants. But Mongolia also seeks to maintain positive relations with its northern neighbor.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry had reached out to the Mongolian government on Aug. 30, urging them to enforce the ICC arrest warrant against Putin.

“A warrant was issued for his arrest on suspicion of the illegal forced transfer of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation by the International Criminal Court, whose jurisdiction is recognized by Mongolia,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry wrote. “The kidnapping of Ukrainian children is only one of the many crimes for which Putin and the rest of the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation must face justice. These individuals are guilty of an aggressive war against Ukraine, atrocities against the Ukrainian people, murders, rapes, robberies, shelling of civilian infrastructure and genocide.”

The Mongolian government has not acted on the arrest, and has thus far welcomed Putin’s visit.

Within hours of his arrival in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar, Putin and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh had ratified multiple agreements to expand ties between their two nations. Among the agreements were measures to expand Russian fuel exports to Mongolia.

Putin also invited his Mongolian counterpart to attend the next meeting of the BRICS economic alliance, which could pave the way for Mongolia’s entry into the bloc.

“Mongolia stands for developing and expanding cooperation with its everlasting neighbor, the Russian Federation, within the framework of its peaceful, independent, open and multifaceted foreign policy,” Khürelsükh said in a statement shared with Russia’s TASS news agency. “We are committed to a multifaceted approach to foreign affairs based on respect for pluralism stemming from history, culture, civilization, national interest and paths of development of all countries.”

The Ukrainian government condemned its Mongolian counterparts for allowing Putin’s visit to proceed this week.

“Mongolia allowed an accused criminal to escape justice, thereby sharing responsibility for his war crimes,” Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi said Tuesday. “We will work with our partners to ensure that this has consequences for Ulaanbaatar.”