Ukraine Urges Mongolia to Detain Putin Ahead of Upcoming Visit

Ukraine has called on Mongolia to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin as he prepares for a visit to the country next week. This trip marks his first visit to an International Criminal Court (ICC) member state since the court issued an arrest warrant for him. The ICC accuses Putin of war crimes, specifically for failing to prevent the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia since the conflict began.

An ICC spokesperson explained that Mongolian authorities are required to adhere to ICC regulations, but this doesn’t automatically mean that an arrest must occur. The Kremlin, however, remains unfazed by the visit, scheduled for next Tuesday. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reassured reporters in Moscow that Russia has a strong relationship with Mongolia and that all details of the visit have been thoroughly planned.

Dr. Fadi el-Abdallah, an ICC spokesperson, highlighted that ICC member states, including Mongolia, are obligated to cooperate under Chapter IX of the Rome Statute, which established the court. However, the Rome Statute allows for exceptions in cases where complying with an arrest warrant might conflict with treaty obligations or violate diplomatic immunity. Should Mongolia choose not to cooperate, ICC judges could issue a non-cooperation finding, which would be reported to the Assembly of States Parties. The Assembly would then determine the appropriate actions.

The ICC has accused Putin of war crimes related to the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, a charge stemming from the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24, 2022. In addition to Putin, the ICC has also issued a warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, for her alleged involvement in these crimes. Moscow has dismissed the charges and denounced the arrest warrants as “outrageous.”

The ICC itself lacks the authority to arrest suspects and can only enforce its jurisdiction within its member states. Ukraine’s foreign ministry has expressed hope that Mongolia recognizes Putin as a war criminal and will act accordingly to arrest him and hand him over to the ICC prosecutors in The Hague, Netherlands.

It has been  reached out to the Mongolian embassy in London for a statement regarding the situation. Last year, Putin canceled a planned visit to a summit in South Africa following the ICC arrest warrant. Although South Africa, as an ICC member, was obligated to detain suspects, President Cyril Ramaphosa indicated that Russia would perceive such an action as a declaration of war. The decision for Putin to forgo the visit was described as “mutual.”

As the visit approaches, the international community watches closely to see how Mongolia will navigate the delicate balance between its diplomatic relations with Russia and its obligations under international law.