Mongolia refused to execute the international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Russian President Vladimir Putin, which caused a sharp reaction from the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In his address, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tyhiy stated, that this step by Mongolia is a serious blow to the system of international criminal law and threatens to create a dangerous precedent that undermines the foundations of justice at the global level.
“The Mongolian government’s failure to comply with the mandatory ICC warrant for the arrest of Vladimir Putin is not only a serious violation of international obligations, but also contributes to the avoidance of justice for those accused of serious war crimes, thereby making Mongolia complicit in these crimes.”, Tychy emphasized.
Ukraine is concerned that Mongolia’s refusal to fulfill its international obligations may negatively affect the perception of international law and encourage other countries to do the same. In response to this incident, the Ukrainian side has already started consultations with international partners to determine further steps and ensure an adequate response to Ulaanbaatar’s actions.
“We will not leave this case without proper attention and will do everything possible to ensure that appropriate measures are taken at the international level.”, – emphasized the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
As you know, on September 2, Putin paid an official visit to Mongolia. This is Putin’s first trip to a country that has ratified the Rome Statute and would have to execute an international warrant for his arrest issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague in 2023.
The Kremlin has not yet commented on the possibility of arresting Putin, who is accused by the International Criminal Court of war crimes, including the “illegal deportation” of children and civilians from the occupied territories of Ukraine.
