Putin arrives in ICC member Mongolia despite arrest warrant

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on Monday in Mongolia, his first visit to a country that is member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since the tribunal issued a warrant for his arrest in March 2023.

"Vladimir Putin arrived in Mongolia on an official visit at the invitation of President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, to attend celebrations of the 85th anniversary of the joint victory of the Soviet and Mongolian armed forces over the Japanese militarists on the Khalkhin Gol River," the Kremlin said in a statement.

Putin's visit will last two days, and on Tuesday several bilateral meetings are scheduled, including with Khurelsukh, as well as signing some documents and laying flowers at the monument to Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov.

"During their talks, the two leaders will discuss prospects for further developing Russian-Mongolian relations of comprehensive strategic partnership and will exchange views on current international and regional issues," the Kremlin said.

Mongolian authorities have shown no intention of arresting the Russian leader on the ICC warrant, and instead organized a welcome ceremony. Putin was greeted by a guard of honor at the Ulaanbaatar Airport in the capital.

Putin is also expected to hold talks with Mongolia's parliament speaker Dashzegve Amarbayasgalan and Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene.

On March 17, 2023, the ICC in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin at the request of prosecutor Karim Khan.

The Hague-based tribunal accused Putin of the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine after the launch of the "special military operation" in February 2022.

Russia denies allegations, insisting that children were evacuated from the battle zone to save their lives, and that the warrant is not applicable as the country is not an ICC member state.