Russian President Putin to visit ICC member Mongolia despite arrest warrant

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Mongolia on Sept. 3, marking his first trip to an International Criminal Court (ICC) member state since the court issued an arrest warrant against him in March 2023.

The Kremlin announced Friday that Putin will meet with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Parliament Speaker Dashzegve Amarbayasgalan, and Prime Minister Oyunerdene Luvsannamsrai during the visit.

The meetings will focus on strengthening bilateral ties between two nations and addressing regional and international issues according to the announcement.

Several documents are expected to be signed during Putin’s visit.

‘No concerns’ over Putin’s Mongolia visit

In response to questions about Mongolia’s ICC membership and the arrest warrant against Putin, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated: “There are no concerns, we have a great dialogue with our friends from Mongolia.”

He emphasized that all aspects of the visit had been thoroughly prepared, dismissing any fears about the potential risk of arrest.

ICC arrest warrant: Background, implications

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova in March 2023. The warrant relates to the alleged illegal deportation of Ukrainian children as part of the ongoing investigation into war crimes in Ukraine. Russia, however, does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction.

Mongolia has been a signatory of the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, since December 2000. As one of the 124 ICC member states, Mongolia is expected to comply with the court’s warrants. However, the ICC relies on member states to enforce these warrants, and past instances have shown that leaders wanted by the ICC have traveled to member states without being arrested.

Ukraine urges Mongolia to arrest Putin during visit

On Friday, Ukraine Foreign Ministry called on Mongolia to arrest Putin during his visit, referring to him as a “war criminal.” The Ukrainian Ministry stated, “The Ukrainian Side hopes that the Government of Mongolia is aware of the fact that Vladimir Putin is a war criminal. The International Criminal Court, the jurisdiction of which is recognized by Mongolia, has issued a warrant for his arrest on suspicion of the illegal forced transfer of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation.”

The abduction of Ukrainian children is just one of numerous crimes for which Putin and the rest of the Russian military and political leadership must be brought to justice. These individuals are guilty of the war of aggression against Ukraine, atrocities against the Ukrainian people, murders, rapes, robberies, shelling of civilian infrastructure and genocide. 

We call on the Mongolian authorities to execute the binding international arrest warrant and transfer Putin to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

Challenges in enforcing ICC arrest warrants

The ICC has faced difficulties in enforcing its arrest warrants, with only 21 out of 49 warrants issued since 2002 resulting in detentions and court appearances. High-profile leaders like former Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir have traveled to ICC member states without facing arrest, despite being subject to multiple ICC warrants.

Since the start of Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine in 2022, Putin has significantly reduced his international travel.

Last year, he canceled a planned visit to a BRICS summit in South Africa, an ICC member, after pressure on Pretoria to arrest him.

Putin’s upcoming visit to Mongolia will also commemorate the 85th anniversary of a significant 1939 battle between Japanese and Soviet-Mongolian forces during Japan’s occupation of Manchuria.