Crime
Ukraine Urges Mongolia to Consider Arresting Russian President Putin Ahead of Visit: ICC Warrant for War Crimes Allegations
Ukraine urges Mongolia to arrest Russian President Putin ahead of his visit, citing ICC warrant for war crimes related to child deportations from Ukraine to Russia. Kremlin unconcerned about visit.
4 min read
Originally published by nationnews.com (opens in new tab)
Ukraine has urged Mongolia to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of his visit to the country next week, his first to an International Criminal Court (ICC) member state since the body issued a warrant for his arrest.
The court alleges Putin is responsible for war crimes, saying he failed to stop the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia since the conflict began.
An ICC spokesperson told the BBC that Mongolian officials “have the obligation” to abide by ICC regulations, but clarified that this did not necessarily mean an arrest had to take place.
The Kremlin said it had “no worries” about the visit, which is slated to take place next Tuesday.
“We have an excellent rapport with our partners from Mongolia,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow.
“Of course, all aspects of the president’s visit have been carefully prepared.”
Dr Fadi el-Abdallah, a spokesperson for the ICC, told the BBC on Friday that court States Parties – including Mongolia – “have the obligation to cooperate in accordance with the Chapter IX of the Rome Statute” – the agreement which set up the court.
The agreement says in some circumstances, states may be exempted from the obligation to carry out an arrest where they would be forced to “breach a treaty obligation” with another state or where it would violate “diplomatic immunity of a person or property of a third state”.
“In case of non-cooperation, ICC judges may make a finding to that effect and inform the Assembly of States Parties of it. It is then for the Assembly to take any measure it deems appropriate,” Dr el-Abdallah said.
The court alleged last year that the Russian president was responsible for war crimes, focusing on the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia. It has also issued a warrant for the arrest of Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for the same crimes.
It said the crimes were committed in Ukraine from 24 February 2022 – when Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Moscow has previously denied the allegations and labelled the warrants as “outrageous”.
The ICC has no powers to arrest suspects, and can only exercise jurisdiction within its member countries.
Ukraine has urged Mongolia to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of his visit to the country next week, his first to an International Criminal Court (ICC) member state since the body issued a warrant for his arrest.
