Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit Mongolia for a World War II commemoration, despite the risk of arrest on International Criminal Court (ICC) charges. The Mongolian government has assured Putin that he will not be arrested, amidst claims of war crimes.
Putin is expected to attend a ceremony commemorating the 1939 Battle of Khalkhin Gol, emphasizing the historic Soviet-Mongolian victory over the Imperial Japanese Army.
Although the ICC issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest in 2023 related to allegations of child deportation, Moscow has dismissed the claims, arguing that the evacuation of civilians from combat zones was justified. Furthermore, neither Russia nor Ukraine signed the Rome Statute, thus disputing the ICC’s jurisdiction in the matter.
While Mongolia recognizes the ICC’s authority, it has not expressed intentions to arrest Putin during his visit. Similar to Mexico, which has rejected Ukraine’s demands to detain Putin during a future visit, Mongolia appears to prioritize diplomatic relations over potential legal matters.