Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Mongolia has sparked controversy due to his presence in a country that is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), despite an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the ICC in March 2023. Putin's arrival in Ulaanbaatar for a state visit was met with a warm reception from Mongolian officials and an honor guard.
The purpose of Putin's visit is to commemorate the 1939 victory over Japan at the Battle of Khalkhin by Soviet-Mongolian forces. This visit is significant as Mongolia's ICC membership theoretically places Putin at risk of arrest for alleged involvement in the abduction of Ukrainian children.
Putin's decision to visit Mongolia, a Rome Statute signatory, is a departure from his usual avoidance of countries under ICC jurisdiction. Notably, major nations like Russia, the U.S., China, India, and Israel are not signatories to the Rome Statute and are therefore not subject to ICC authority.
The Kremlin has downplayed concerns about Putin's potential arrest during the visit, emphasizing the positive diplomatic relations between Russia and Mongolia. Ukrainian authorities have labeled Putin a war criminal, citing various alleged crimes committed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including the abduction of children.
Ukraine has called on Mongolian authorities to enforce the ICC arrest warrant and extradite Putin to The Hague for trial. Despite these calls, the Kremlin remains confident in Putin's safety during his stay in Mongolia, underscoring the careful planning that went into the visit.
