Brussels/Ulaanbaatar — The European Union condemned Mongolia on Tuesday for failing to execute an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin during his recent visit to the country.
“The EU regrets that Mongolia, a State Party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, did not comply with its obligations under the statute to execute the arrest warrant,” said an EU spokesperson.
During his visit to Ulaanbaatar, Putin was warmly received by Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, who greeted him with a formal ceremony featuring ceremonial guardsmen and a young girl presenting flowers. Despite the ICC’s warrant, which was issued last year and mandates arrest and transfer of Putin to The Hague if he enters any member state’s territory, Mongolia did not take action.
Ukraine criticized Mongolia’s inaction as undermining international justice. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi described it as “a heavy blow to the ICC and the system of criminal law,” and warned that Ukraine would seek repercussions for Mongolia’s failure to enforce the warrant.
The ICC warrant accuses Putin of the illegal deportation of hundreds of Ukrainian children, a claim Russia dismisses as politically motivated. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that Russia had pre-arranged the visit with Mongolia and had no concerns about the warrant.
