Russian President Vladimir Putin made a significant visit to Mongolia on Monday, marking his first trip to a member state of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since the court issued an arrest warrant for him last year.
Upon his arrival in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, Putin was greeted with a guard of honor. The visit is seen as a bold move, especially in light of calls from the ICC, Ukraine, and various human rights groups for his arrest due to alleged war crimes.
The ICC, based in The Hague, issued the arrest warrant against Putin, accusing him of the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ukraine has expressed strong disapproval of the visit, condemning Mongolia for not detaining Putin upon his arrival.
Ukraine’s government criticized Mongolia for its inaction, arguing that by failing to arrest Putin, Mongolia is complicit in his alleged crimes. Despite Kyiv’s calls for action, it appears unlikely that Mongolia will comply with the ICC’s demands.
Mongolia, geographically positioned between Russia and China, has historically maintained close ties with both nations. Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Mongolia has navigated a delicate balance in its relationships with Moscow and Beijing. The country has refrained from condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine and has abstained from voting on related issues at the United Nations.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Georgiy Tykhyi, labeled Mongolia’s decision not to arrest Putin as a significant setback for the ICC, warning that Kyiv would seek consequences for Ulaanbaatar’s actions. He stated that Mongolia’s choice to allow Putin to evade justice makes it partially responsible for his alleged war crimes.
The ICC issued the arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023, citing evidence that he is responsible for the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. Reports have surfaced of Ukrainian children being adopted by Russian families and having their identities altered, which has led to accusations that Moscow is attempting to erase their Ukrainian heritage.
While Russia claims it relocated children for their safety, it dismisses the ICC’s warrant as irrelevant. However, this visit to Mongolia is notable as it is Putin’s first trip to an ICC member state since the warrant was issued.
Previously, Putin canceled a visit to South Africa, another ICC member, due to pressure on the country to arrest him if he attended a BRICS summit there.
Amnesty International voiced concerns on Monday, suggesting that Mongolia’s failure to arrest Putin could further damage the ICC’s credibility and embolden the Russian leader. Altantuya Batdorj, Executive Director of Amnesty International Mongolia, stated that any ICC member state visit that does not result in Putin’s arrest only strengthens his resolve and undermines the ICC’s efforts.
Earlier this year, Mongolia was among 93 countries that signed a letter affirming support for the ICC’s role in upholding justice for victims of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. The statement, released in June, emphasized the importance of full cooperation with the ICC to ensure justice for all.
