Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit Mongolia next week at the invitation of Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, the Kremlin announced.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Friday that there are no concerns about the visit, noting that Moscow and Ulaanbaatar have thoroughly discussed all aspects of the trip.
Mongolia is a signatory of the Rome Statute, which governs the International Criminal Court (ICC). This makes Mongolia technically obligated to comply with ICC arrest warrants. Putin’s visit on September 3 will be his first trip to an ICC member state since the court issued an arrest warrant in March 2023 over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
Under the Rome Statute, ICC members are required to arrest individuals subject to arrest warrants if they enter their territory.
However, Mongolia, a long-time ally of Russia, has remained neutral regarding the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and it is unlikely that Ulaanbaatar will detain Putin.
The visit will commemorate the 1939 Soviet-Mongolian victory over Japan in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol.
According to the Kremlin, Putin and Khurelsukh will also discuss the future development of the Russian-Mongolian comprehensive strategic partnership.
In a similar situation last year, South Africa, another Rome Statute signatory, sought an exemption to allow Putin to attend a BRICS summit, leading to his decision to skip the event.
The ICC lacks enforcement mechanisms, as demonstrated in 2015 when then-Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was not arrested during a visit to South Africa, leading to criticism from rights activists and the opposition.
The Kremlin, which does not recognize ICC jurisdiction, has not commented on the potential for Putin’s arrest in Mongolia. Tensions also rose between Moscow and Armenia last year when Armenia joined the ICC, though Armenian officials assured Russia that Putin would not be detained if he visited.
