Russia’s pro-Kremlin news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti, as well as the Mongolian presidential administration, report that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin arrived in Mongolia on Monday, 2 September, for an official visit. The country recognises the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Putin, but Moscow is not concerned about the risk of arrest.
A protest took place outside the government building, which had Russian symbols affixed to it before Putin’s arrival. Mongolian citizens came out with Ukrainian flags and posters calling on their government to arrest the Russian leader for war crimes.
Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko expressed his views on the Russian leader’s visit to Mongolia.
According to Ogryzko, this visit was obviously carefully discussed with the Mongolian authorities, who gave assurances that nothing unexpected would happen. Otherwise, the visit would not have taken place.
“If the visit is taking place, it is obvious that this potential scenario has been discussed with the Mongolian authorities on numerous occasions, and they have given 200% assurances that nothing will happen. Otherwise, he would not have gone there,” Ogryzko said
The former foreign minister believes that the real purpose of this trip is to set a precedent.
“In this way, he (Putin – ed.) just wants to show other countries in the south that are hesitant – you see, I went and Mongolia did nothing to me, so you should not be afraid,” the expert comments.
In addition, Ogryzko stressed the importance of this step for Russia’s domestic policy.
“The signal to my own electorate is very simple: I remain great and powerful. It should still give Russians some vanity pills,” the former minister added.
What we know about Vladimir Putin’s visit to Mongolia
The Russian president planned this visit at the invitation of Mongolian leader Ukhnagiin Khurelsukh. The country recognises the jurisdiction of the ICC, which issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, in turn, called on the Mongolian authorities to execute the binding international arrest warrant and hand Putin over to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The Kremlin was not worried about Putin’s possible visit to Mongolia, Russian news agency Interfax reported, citing a comment by Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
And ICC spokesman Fadi el-Abdallah said that Mongolia may not arrest the Russian leader if countries are forced to “violate treaty obligations” with another state or if it violates “the diplomatic immunity of a person or property of a third state.” The exception is spelled out in Chapter IX of the Rome Statute, the court representative explained.
What is known about the arrest warrant for Putin
on 17 March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Putin and Russian Children’s Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova. They are suspected of the illegal deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children. If they leave the territory of Russia for countries that are parties to the ICC and have ratified the Rome Statute, they should be arrested and brought to court, said Ukrainian Prosecutor General Kostin.