Putin visits Mongolia amid ICC arrest warrant pressure

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit Mongolia on September 3, despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes. This visit marks his first trip to an ICC member country since the warrant was issued last year, which relates to the forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia amid the ongoing conflict. The Kremlin has expressed confidence that there will be no issues regarding the visit, emphasizing the strong relationship between Russia and Mongolia. Ukraine has urged the Mongolian government to act on the ICC warrant during Putin's visit, asserting that he is a war criminal. The Ukrainian foreign ministry has called for Mongolia to fulfill its international obligations as an ICC member by arresting Putin if he enters the country. Ukrainian officials have suggested initiating negotiations with Mongolia to persuade them to execute the warrant. Human Rights Watch has highlighted that allowing Putin to visit without arresting him would be a violation of Mongolia's commitments under the Rome Statute. The organization has called on the Mongolian government to demonstrate its dedication to international justice by either denying entry to Putin or arresting him upon arrival. The situation underscores the complexities of international law and diplomatic relations, particularly for countries that are ICC members. As the visit approaches, the international community is closely watching Mongolia's actions and decisions regarding the enforcement of the arrest warrant against the Russian leader.