Mongolian officers “have the duty” to arrest Vladimir Putin if he visits the nation subsequent week, the Worldwide Felony Court docket (ICC) has mentioned.
The journey, anticipated to occur on Tuesday, would be the first time the Russian chief has visited an ICC member nation for the reason that court docket ordered his arrest in March 2023.
The court docket alleges Mr Putin is chargeable for struggle crimes, saying he did not cease the illegal deportation of kids from Ukraine to Russia for the reason that battle started.
Regardless of officers in Ukraine demanding that Mongolia arrest Mr Putin as soon as he arrives within the nation, the Kremlin mentioned it had “no worries” concerning the go to.
“We’ve got a superb rapport with our companions from Mongolia,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed reporters in Moscow.
“In fact, all features of the President’s go to have been rigorously ready.”
Dr Fadi el-Abdallah, a spokesperson for the ICC, informed the BBC on Friday that the court docket depends on its States Events – together with Mongolia – to “execute its selections”.
He mentioned Mongolia, like different ICC signatories, has the “obligation to cooperate”. This consists of complying with arrest warrants such because the one the court docket issued for Mr Putin’s arrest in 2023.
The court docket alleged the Russian president is chargeable for struggle crimes, specializing in the illegal deportation of kids from Ukraine to Russia. It has additionally issued a warrant for the arrest of Russia’s commissioner for kids’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for a similar crimes.
It mentioned the crimes had been dedicated in Ukraine from 24 February 2022 – when Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Moscow has beforehand denied the allegations and labelled the warrants as “outrageous”.
Dr Abdallah mentioned ICC judges will look into circumstances of “non-cooperation” by its signatories and inform the Meeting of States Events, which can “take any measure it deems acceptable”.
The ICC has no powers to arrest suspects, and may solely train jurisdiction inside its member nations.
Ukraine’s overseas ministry mentioned it hoped Mongolia was “conscious of the truth that Vladimir Putin is a struggle prison” and referred to as on the nation’s authorities to arrest the Russian chief and hand him over to prosecutors at The Hague, the seat of the ICC within the Netherlands.
Final yr, Mr Putin cancelled a go to to a summit in South Africa following the ICC warrant for his arrest.
As a signatory to the court docket, South Africa ought to detain suspects in its territory, however President Ramaphosa warned Russia would see this as a declaration of struggle.
Mr Ramaphosa mentioned the choice for the Russian chief to not attend was “mutual”.
The BBC has contacted the Mongolian Embassy for a remark.