ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia: Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Mongolia on Tuesday, marking his first trip to an International Criminal Court (ICC) member country since the court issued a warrant for his arrest last year.
Putin’s visit to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital, is seen as a bold act of defiance against the ICC, Ukraine, and Western nations, which have called for his detention on charges of war crimes.
Putin was greeted with an honor guard upon his arrival in Ulaanbaatar and was officially welcomed by Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh at the city’s Genghis Khan Square.
The leaders stood solemnly as the national anthems of both nations were played, underscoring the close ties between Mongolia and Russia. Notably, the visit coincides with the 85th anniversary of a joint victory by Mongolian and Soviet forces against Imperial Japan.
The ICC has charged Putin with the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ukraine has reacted strongly to the visit, accusing Mongolia of “sharing responsibility” for Putin’s alleged war crimes by not arresting him.
Kyiv urged Mongolia to comply with the ICC warrant, while the ICC emphasized that its member states are obligated to detain individuals wanted by the court. However, Mongolia, which shares deep cultural and economic ties with Russia and China, has not acted on this warrant.
The Kremlin remains unconcerned about the potential for Putin’s arrest in Mongolia, highlighting the geopolitical complexities of such legal obligations.
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Historically, Mongolia was under Soviet influence until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then, it has balanced friendly relations with both Russia and China. Mongolia has not condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and has abstained from voting on related resolutions at the United Nations.
In Ulaanbaatar, small-scale protests were held in opposition to Putin’s visit. Demonstrators carried signs demanding, “Get war criminal Putin out of here.” However, tight security prevented these protests from coming near Putin or Genghis Khan Square. The protests occurred near the Monument for the Politically Repressed, a site commemorating victims of Mongolia’s Soviet-backed communist regime.
The visit also emphasized economic and strategic partnerships between Russia and Mongolia. Putin highlighted potential “promising economic and industrial projects,” including the construction of the Trans-Mongolian gas pipeline that would connect Russia and China. He expressed interest in a trilateral summit involving Mongolia, Russia, and China.
Amnesty International criticized Mongolia for not arresting Putin, arguing that failure to act could undermine the ICC’s legitimacy and embolden Putin’s actions. “Any trip to an ICC member state that does not end in arrest will encourage President Putin’s current course of action,” said Altantuya Batdorj, executive director of Amnesty International Mongolia.
As Putin continues his global engagements, his visit to Mongolia serves as a stark reminder of the complex interplay between international law, diplomacy, and global politics.
