Russian President Vladimir Putin was officially welcomed in Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, with a grand ceremony in the city’s main square. An honor guard, dressed in uniforms inspired by the personal guard of the 13th-century Mongol ruler Genghis Khan, greeted Putin as he arrived for talks aimed at strengthening ties between Russia and Mongolia.
Following the ceremony, Putin and Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh entered the Government Palace to discuss various issues, including a potential new gas pipeline connecting Russia and China.
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However, Putin’s visit has sparked international controversy due to Mongolia’s failure to arrest him on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. The ICC issued the warrant for Putin last year on charges of war crimes, obligating all member states to detain him if he sets foot on their territory.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry condemned Mongolia’s actions, calling it a “heavy blow” to the international criminal law system. “Mongolia has allowed an accused criminal to evade justice, thereby sharing responsibility for the war crimes,” said Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi.
Amnesty International Mongolia also criticized the Mongolian government for not arresting Putin, with its executive director, Altantuya Batdorj, stating that the failure to do so undermines the ICC’s efforts and emboldens Putin’s actions. The European Commission echoed these sentiments, urging Mongolia to fulfill its obligations under the Rome Statute, which it joined in 2002.
Despite these calls, Mongolia provided Putin with a guard of honor and showed no indication that he was at risk of arrest. Human Rights Watch noted that Mongolia was among 94 countries that had recently declared their “unwavering support” for the ICC. Yet, there has been no official response from the Mongolian government regarding the calls to honor the ICC warrant.
Key Points:
- Putin’s Arrival: Russian President Vladimir Putin was officially welcomed in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, with a grand ceremony featuring an honor guard dressed in uniforms inspired by Genghis Khan’s personal guard.
- Talks with Mongolia: Putin met with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh at the Government Palace to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and a new gas pipeline project with China.
- ICC Warrant Controversy: Mongolia did not arrest Putin despite an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for his arrest on war crime charges, leading to significant international criticism.
- Ukrainian Reaction: Ukraine’s foreign ministry criticized Mongolia, calling the failure to arrest Putin a “heavy blow” to international criminal law.
- Amnesty International and ICC Response: Amnesty International and the ICC condemned Mongolia’s actions, stating that it undermines the court’s work and encourages Putin’s actions.
- European Commission and Human Rights Watch: The European Commission urged Mongolia to honor its ICC obligations, while Human Rights Watch noted Mongolia’s support for the ICC in recent statements.
- Mongolian Government Response: Mongolia welcomed Putin with a guard of honor and has not officially responded to calls for his arrest.
