Vladimir Putin: Human Rights Watch calls on Mongolia to arrest Putin during visit

The human rights organization Human Rights Watch has called on Mongolia to fulfill its responsibility and arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to the country. Otherwise, the country would be violating its “international obligations as a member of the International Criminal Court,” said Maria Elena Vignoli of the Justice Department at Human Rights Watch. Ukraine and other Western countries are also calling on the Mongolia already the arrest of Putin.

Putin has already arrived in the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator and was received there with an honor guard, the Russian government announced. There have been no reports of any police measures so far. The Russian ruler is traveling at the invitation of Mongolian President Uchnaagiin Khürelsüch, with whom he will meet on Tuesday, it was further reported. Russia and Mongolia want to build up their cooperation. The trip is also being held to mark the 85th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet and Mongolian forces over Japan.

Russia without fear of arrest

Mongolia officially recognizes the International Criminal Court (ICC) and signed its treaty in 2000. Since the court has issued an international arrest warrant against Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, the Russian president should actually have been arrested upon his arrival in Ulan Bator.

However, due to Russia’s friendly relations with Mongolia, the trip does not pose a threat to Putin, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. It is Putin’s first visit to an ICC member state since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Mongolia strives to maintain a balanced relationship with its powerful neighbors China and Russia as well as with the West. However, the Mongolian government has not officially condemned the war against Ukraine and abstained from UN votes on the conflict. Since the country is also dependent on Russia, an arrest of Putin there is considered unlikely.