Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit Mongolia on September 3, marking his first trip to a country that has signed the Rome Statute since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him in March 2023.
The warrant accuses Putin of the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied territories to Russia, mandating his arrest if he sets foot in any of the more than 120 signatory countries. Despite these circumstances, Mongolia has assured the Kremlin that Putin will not face detention during his visit, according to Bloomberg.
The news service reported that sources familiar with the Kremlin’s plans have indicated that Putin received advance assurances from Mongolian officials that he would not be detained, easing concerns from the Russian side. That was confirmed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said they held conversations with the authorities in Mongolia and “all aspects of the visit were carefully prepared.”
Peskov also emphasized the strong relationship between Moscow and Ulaanbaatar, saying: “No worries, we have an excellent dialogue with our friends in Mongolia.”
Vladimir Putin (left) speaks with Mongolia’s then-president, Khaltmaagiin Battulga, in Ulaanbaatar on September 3, 2019. Putin is set to visit Mongolia in coming days.
Mikhail Klimentyev/AFP via Getty Images
Political analysts close to the Kremlin, like Sergei Markov, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that all aspects of Putin’s foreign trips are meticulously planned and vetted in advance to ensure his safety.
“There is no risk of Putin’s arrest,” Markov said to Bloomberg. “Before any foreign trips, the entire spectrum of the negotiating format is agreed in advance, and the host nation gives 100% guarantees that neither Putin nor any member of the delegation will be detained.”
Putin’s visit is officially tied to the 85th anniversary of the 1939 Battle of Khalkhin Gol, a significant conflict in which Soviet and Mongolian forces defeated Japanese troops, according to the Kremlin’s statement.
“During the talks, the heads of state will discuss prospects for the further development of Russian-Mongolian relations of a comprehensive strategic partnership and will exchange views on current international and regional issues,” the statement read.
This trip comes amid increasing scrutiny of Putin’s international travel since the ICC issued its arrest warrant. The Russian leader has notably avoided traveling to countries where he might face legal jeopardy, the Moscow Times reported.
For instance, Putin skipped the 2022 BRICS summit in South Africa, a country that is also a signatory to the Rome Statute, despite having close diplomatic relations. Additionally, he chose not to attend last year’s G20 summit in India, even though India is not a member of the ICC.
While Mongolia’s assurance to not arrest Putin may ease tensions for the Kremlin, the visit will undoubtedly draw international attention and further debate over the enforcement of the ICC’s mandate in signatory countries. The ICC is yet to comment on Putin’s visit and possible penalties for Mongolia if it takes no action.
Newsweek has contacted the ICC for a comment.
The U.S. and Russia are not ICC member states. Ukraine ratified the Rome Statute last week, on August 21, as it follows a path toward joining the European Union, according to Reuters.
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this article? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
