Mongolia`s Obligation to Arrest Putin if He Visits - ICC

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has declared that Mongolia is obligated to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he visits the country next week. This would mark the first time Putin has traveled to an ICC member nation since the court issued an arrest warrant against him in March 2023. The warrant accuses Putin of war crimes, specifically for his alleged role in the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia during the ongoing conflict. Despite Ukraine’s calls for Mongolia to detain Putin upon his arrival, the Kremlin has expressed confidence in the visit, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that the relationship between Russia and Mongolia remains strong and that all aspects of the visit have been thoroughly prepared.

The ICC's spokesperson, Dr. Fadi el-Abdallah, emphasized that Mongolia, as a signatory to the ICC, has a legal obligation to cooperate with the court’s decisions, including executing arrest warrants. The court's jurisdiction is limited to its member countries, and while it cannot directly enforce arrests, it expects its members to fulfill their commitments. Moscow has dismissed the war crimes allegations as baseless and labeled the ICC's warrants as "outrageous." However, Ukraine continues to urge Mongolia to uphold international law by arresting Putin and transferring him to The Hague, where the ICC is headquartered.

This situation echoes a similar incident last year when Putin canceled a visit to South Africa after the ICC issued its warrant. South Africa, also an ICC signatory, faced a dilemma, with President Ramaphosa indicating that arresting Putin would have been seen as a declaration of war by Russia. Image Credit: Getty Images