Vladimir Putin (R) and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh (L) attend a welcome ceremony in Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (Picture: EPA)
Mongolia has issued a half-hearted apology after failing to arrest Vladimir Putin.
The Russian president landed in the country on Monday after being invited by Mongolia’s president, Ukhnaa Khurelsukh.
Putin should have been marched away in handcuffs, as this is the first time he has visited an International Criminal Court-member country since it issued a warrant for his arrest last March.
The ICC has accused Putin of illegally deporting Ukrainian children to Russia and Russian-controlled territory – and under the Rome Statute, all member countries are supposed to detain all suspects with a warrant if they step foot on their soil.
However, Putin’s visit to Mongolia went off without a hitch – and the country’s government says that its hands are tied.
In fact, Mongolia literally rolled out the red carpet for the Russian president, who was met by an honour guard dressed in vivid red and blue uniforms styled on those of the personal guard of 13th century ruler Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire.
As welcomes go, they don’t get much warmer than this (Picture: AP)
A government spokesperson told Politico that Mongolia is energy dependent on both its major neighbours, Russia and China, making it difficult for them to enact the arrest warrant.
The spokesperson explained: ‘Mongolia imports 95% of its petroleum products and over 20% of electricity from our immediate neighborhood, which have previously suffered interruption for technical reasons.
‘This supply is critical to ensure our existence and that of our people.
‘Mongolia has always maintained a policy of neutrality in all its diplomatic relations, as demonstrated in our statements of record to date.’
Despite its precarious political position, Mongolia is required to act upon the ICC’s warrants as a member – and there’s a possibility the country could face prosecution for failing to arrest Putin.
The EU, Ukraine and international organisations like Amnesty International have previously urged Mongolia to act on its ICC obligations.
Heorhii Tykhii, spokesperson for the Ukrainian foreign ministry, called Mongolia’s failure to arrest Putin ‘a heavy blow to ICC and the international criminal justice system’, adding: ‘Mongolia allowed the indicted criminal to escape justice, thereby sharing responsibility for his war crimes.
‘We will work with partners to ensure that this has consequences for Ulaanbaatar [the Mongolian capital city].’
Mongolia says it’s dependent on Russia and China for petroleum and electricity (Picture: EPA)
During Putin’s visit, the two governments signed agreements on a power plant upgrade in Ulaanbaatar and on the supply of Russian aviation fuel to Mongolia.
They also agreed to carry out an environmental study of a river where Mongolia wants to build a hydroelectric plant that Russia is concerned would pollute its Lake Baikal.
Putin also outlined plans to develop the rail system between the countries.
The Russian president has avoided travelling to other ICC member states since the warrant, which he branded ‘null and void’, was issued.
Mongolia signed the Rome Statute in 2000 and ratified it in 2002
Armenia, a close Russian ally, angered the Kremlin after joining the ICC – but officials quickly made clear that Putin would not be arrested if he entered their country.
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