Russian President Vladimir Putin Visits Mongolia Despite International Arrest Warrant (photos)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made an official visit to Mongolia, a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that issued an arrest warrant for him.
Putin is set to meet with Mongolian leader Ukhnaa Khurelsukh today, September 3. This visit marks Putin’s first trip to a member country of the ICC since the court issued a warrant for his arrest nearly 18 months ago on charges of war crimes in Ukraine.
Ukraine has urged Mongolia to arrest Putin and hand him over to the ICC in The Hague. According to international law, members of the ICC are obligated to detain suspects if an arrest warrant has been issued. However, the court lacks an enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance.
The ICC has charged Putin with responsibility for the abduction of children from Ukraine, where conflict has been ongoing for two and a half years.
On Tuesday, Putin and the Mongolian leader are scheduled to attend a ceremony commemorating the 1939 victory of Soviet and Mongolian troops over the Japanese army, which had occupied Manchuria in northeastern China.