Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to visit Mongolia next week, which will be his first trip to a country that is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since the court issued a warrant for his arrest in March 2023. The warrant accuses him of involvement in the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and areas under Russian control. Despite Mongolia’s membership in the ICC, which legally obliges it to arrest individuals with outstanding warrants, the Kremlin has expressed confidence that the visit will proceed without issues.
The visit, scheduled for September 3, comes at the invitation of Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh. During the visit, the two leaders are expected to discuss the ongoing partnership between their countries and participate in ceremonies marking the anniversary of the Soviet-Mongolian victory over Japanese forces at the Battle of Khalkhin Gol in 1939. The Kremlin has downplayed any concerns about the ICC warrant, emphasizing the strong relationship between Russia and Mongolia.
The Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, requires member states to arrest and hand over individuals wanted by the court if they enter their territory. However, the ICC does not have its own enforcement mechanism, so compliance with arrest warrants depends on the willingness of individual countries to act. This has led to situations where ICC warrants have been ignored, as was the case with former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who traveled to South Africa in 2015 without being detained, despite an ICC warrant against him.
Since the ICC issued the warrant for his arrest, Putin has avoided visiting countries that are members of the court. Last year, he chose not to attend a summit of the BRICS nations in South Africa, another ICC member state. Instead, he participated in the summit via video link, which allowed him to avoid any potential legal complications.
The Kremlin has consistently rejected the ICC’s authority, stating that Russia does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recently reiterated that the Russian government is not concerned about Putin’s upcoming trip to Mongolia, citing the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries.
Mongolia, which ratified the Rome Statute in 2002, has maintained a neutral stance on Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. Given its historical ties with Russia and its neutral position, it is unlikely that Mongolia would take any action against Putin during his visit.
The ICC warrant for Putin is a unique case, as it is the first time the court has issued a warrant against a leader of one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The court has also issued warrants for other Russian officials, accusing them of involvement in the war in Ukraine. Russia, however, has refused to cooperate with the ICC and has dismissed the charges as politically motivated.
Putin’s upcoming visit to Mongolia will be closely monitored by the international community. Although the ICC warrant remains in effect, the visit underscores the complexities of international relations and the challenges of enforcing international law in the context of global diplomacy.
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