On Tuesday, September 3, the Russian leader Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to Mongoliaat the invitation of President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh. This is the first time that the head of the Kremlin travels to a country that does not recognize his judgment and in which the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court in The Hague should be in force. Ukraine is demanding his arrest.
Putin’s visit to Mongolia
September 3rd Vladimir Putin will arrive in Mongolia, the invitation – specifies a note from Moscow – came from President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh.
Alongside his Mongolian counterpart, Putin will take part in “the ceremonial events dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the joint victory of the Soviet and Mongolian armed forces over the Japanese militarists on the river Khalkhin Gol”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
During the state visit, the Kremlin leader is also expected to hold talks with the president Khurelsukh and with senior national officials.
“All aspects of the visit have been carefully prepared,” the Kremlin spokesman assured. Dmitry Peskovstressing that there is “an excellent dialogue with our friends in Mongolia”.
Could he really be arrested?
Mongolia is one of the member countries of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and is therefore obliged to comply with its rules.
And the International Criminal Court based in The Hague, Netherlands, issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023 for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children.
Fadi El-Abdallahspokesperson for the ICC, explained that Mongolian officials “have an obligation” to respect the rules of the Court.
Signatory of the Treaty of Rome Since 2000, Mongolia – like the other 123 ICC member states – would have to execute the arrest warrant if Putin set foot on its territory.
In theory. Because, in practice, the ICC, which does not have its own police force, can only rely on the cooperation of member countries. But, otherwise, its options are limited to verbal sanctions.
The Hague ruling and Ukraine’s request
It is therefore not a given – indeed it is highly unlikely – that Mongolia will arrest Putin, despite recent external pressure.
The Hague ruling is being urged by Mongolia to take into accountUkrainewhose foreign minister said in a statement that he “hopes that the Mongolian government is aware of the fact that Vladimir Putin is a war criminal.”
The representative of Kiev continued with the call “to the Mongolian authorities to execute the binding international arrest warrant”.
Moreover, this is not the first time that a leader has evaded a conviction by the ICC. In 2015, for example, the former dictator of Sudan Omar Al-Bashir He travelled to several member states such as Jordan and South Africa without any consequences.
Photo source: ANSA
Source: notizie.virgilio.it
