Putin Welcomed in Mongolia Despite ICC Arrest Warrant

Photo : AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Mongolia for an official visit, marking his first trip to an International Criminal Court (ICC) member country since the court issued an arrest warrant for him last year. The visit began with a grand ceremony in Ulaanbaatar, where Putin was warmly welcomed by Mongolia's leader, President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh. The reception featured soldiers on horseback and a live band playing martial anthems, reflecting a lavish honor for the Russian leader.

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Putin is wanted by the ICC for alleged war crimes related to the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. Despite this, the Kremlin has expressed confidence that Putin will not face arrest during this visit. The ICC’s arrest warrant, issued last year, accuses Putin of war crimes, focusing on the forced deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022. The ICC has also issued a warrant for Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for similar charges.

Ahead of Putin's arrival, Ukraine urged Mongolia to comply with the ICC’s warrant. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called on Mongolian authorities to detain Putin and transfer him to The Hague. The ICC has stressed that member states have an obligation to act on arrest warrants, though enforcement mechanisms are limited. Mongolia has not publicly addressed these calls or responded to the ICC's request.

In Ulaanbaatar, a small group of protesters gathered at Genghis Khan Square, holding signs demanding "Get War Criminal Putin out of here." Another protest is planned for midday Tuesday at the Monument for the Politically Repressed, which commemorates victims of Mongolia's Soviet-backed communist regime. Some protesters were kept away from the Russian president by security forces.

Mongolia, a former Soviet satellite state, has maintained a friendly relationship with Russia since the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991. The country has not condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has chosen not to vote on the conflict at the United Nations. Mongolia also relies on Russia for gas and electricity and is a key partner in the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project. This pipeline aims to transport 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Russia’s Yamal region to China via Mongolia, part of Russia’s strategy to compensate for decreased gas sales to Europe due to the Ukraine invasion. 

The visit underscores the delicate balance Mongolia must maintain between its strategic partnerships and its obligations as an ICC member state.