ICC, Ukraine demand that Mongolia arrest Putin during visit

News 31-08-2024

Mongolia is obligated, under the Rome Statute, to arrest President Putin during his visit to the country despite the ICC having no jurisdiction over Russia.

Mongolia is obligated to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin as a member state of the International Criminal Court (ICC), an ICC spokesperson said. 

Putin is expected to visit Mongolia on Monday on the anniversary of a major World War II battle, which would expose him to the risk of arrest on an ICC arrest warrant. As an ICC member, Mongolia recognized the court and arrest warrant’s jurisdiction, making Ulaanbaatar potentially liable if Putin is not detained. 

ICC spokesperson Fadi el-Abdallah told the BBC that all signatories of the Rome Statute “have the obligation to cooperate in accordance with Chapter IX,” including Mongolia. 

“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,” he added. 

The Rome Statute, however, includes provisions for when international legal obligations could conflict when arresting an individual, such as breaching a treaty obligation with another country or violating the diplomatic immunity of a person or property of a third state.