President Vladimir Putin of Russia arrived in Mongolia on his first visit to a member state of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Despite calls from the EU, Ukraine, and the ICC for his arrest, Putin was warmly welcomed by the foreign minister, Batmunkh Battsetseg, at the airport in Ulaan Bator. The official visit comes amid an international warrant for Putin’s arrest on charges of war crimes in Ukraine nearly 18 months ago.
The EU and Ukraine have urged Mongolia to arrest Putin and hand him over to the ICC in The Hague. Mongolia, as a state party to the ICC since 2002, has legal obligations to detain suspects with arrest warrants. However, Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute, and the Kremlin has dismissed the ICC warrant on Putin as “null and void.”
The ICC has accused Putin of child abductions in Ukraine, and this has led to tensions between Moscow and countries like Armenia. Mongolia, heavily dependent on Russia for fuel and China for investments, faces pressure to cooperate with the court. The ICC has pointed out that state parties are obligated to execute its decisions, including arrest warrants.
As the visit continues, it remains to be seen how Mongolia will address the issue of Putin’s arrest warrant. With the potential for diplomatic fallout and international pressure, the situation showcases the challenges faced by international courts in enforcing justice on a global scale.
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