Mongolia’s Failure to Arrest Putin Violates International Obligations, ICC Confirms

The Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed that Mongolia violated its obligations as a state party to the Rome Statute by failing to arrest Vladimir Putin under the ICC warrant.

This was stated by the Chamber on October 24.

It’s stated that Mongolia's refusal to arrest Putin hindered the ICC from carrying out its functions and powers, emphasizing that the immunity of a head of state does not allow for ignoring an arrest warrant. "Given the seriousness of Mongolia's refusal to cooperate with the Court, the Chamber deemed it necessary to refer this matter to the Assembly of States Parties," the statement reads.

The highest penalty that Mongolia could face as a result of the Assembly's decision is the loss of procedural rights, including the right to nominate candidates for new ICC judges. Notably, in 2024, for the first time in history, a representative from Mongolia was elected to the Court for a nine-year term.

Putin's visit to Mongolia on September 3 was the first visit to a Rome Statute state party after the court issued an arrest warrant for him in March 2023 for the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine.

Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a démarche to the Mongolia for failing to execute the ICC arrest warrant for Putin.