Ulaanbaatar, August 31 2024, The Europe Today: The International Criminal Court (ICC) has urged Mongolia to detain Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the country is a signatory to the Rome Statute and recognizes the court’s jurisdiction. Putin is scheduled to visit Mongolia on Monday to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, a significant World War II battle.
The ICC’s spokesman, Fadi el-Abdallah, emphasized that under Chapter IX of the Rome Statute, all member states are obligated to cooperate with the ICC. Mongolia, which ratified the Rome Statute in 2002, is thus required to adhere to this obligation. “In case of non-cooperation, ICC judges may make a finding to that effect and inform the Assembly of States Parties,” el-Abdallah stated. The Assembly would then decide on further actions.
The Rome Statute does, however, allow for exemptions in cases where an arrest might breach treaty obligations or diplomatic immunity.
Ukraine has also formally requested Mongolia to arrest Putin, as confirmed by Kiev’s government. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023, accusing him of “unlawful deportation of population (children)” and “unlawful transfer of population (children)” from occupied Ukrainian territories to Russia. Moscow has dismissed these allegations, arguing that the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones is not a criminal act. Both Russia and Ukraine are not parties to the Rome Statute, which Moscow claims limits the ICC’s jurisdiction.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reassured reporters that Russia has resolved all issues related to Putin’s visit independently and expressed no concerns about the ICC warrant. The visit will mark the anniversary of the 1939 Battle of Khalkhin Gol, where the Red Army and Mongolian forces defeated the Imperial Japanese Army, securing the Soviet Union’s eastern front until 1945.
