Mongolia 'obliged' to arrest Putin: ICC; Russia withdraws troops from Burkina Faso due to Ukraine war

Mongolia is obliged to arrest Vladimir Putin if he enters the country next week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) said. Putin's visit, expected on Tuesday, will be his first trip to an ICC member country since the court issued an arrest warrant for him in March 2023.

The ICC accuses Putin of war crimes, in particular of failing to prevent the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia since the beginning of the conflict.

While Ukrainian officials urged Mongolia to arrest Putin upon his arrival, the Kremlin dismissed concerns about the visit.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow: “We have an excellent relationship with our partners from Mongolia. Of course, all aspects of the president's visit were carefully prepared.”

In December 2000, Mongolia joined the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This agreement obliges the 124 ICC member states to execute any arrest warrant issued by the court if the person in question – such as Putin – enters their territory.

However, the ICC does not have its own police force and is dependent on the willingness of its member states to enforce such arrest warrants. If a member state fails to meet its obligations, the court is obliged to inform the Assembly of States Parties, the ICC's governing body, which meets annually.

On Friday, Ukraine called on Mongolia to comply with the ICC arrest warrant during Putin's visit. “The Ukrainian side hopes that the government of Mongolia is aware of the fact that Vladimir Putin is a war criminal,” the Kyiv Foreign Ministry said.

“We call on the Mongolian authorities to execute the binding international arrest warrant and hand Putin over to the International Criminal Court in The Hague,” it said.

In another development, Russia is withdrawing 100 paramilitary officers from Burkina Faso to support its war effort in Ukraine. These officers are part of a 300-strong contingent of the Bear Brigade, a Russian private military company deployed to the West African country in May to support its military junta.

The Bear Brigade announced on its Telegram channel that its troops would return to Russia to help defend against Ukraine's offensive in the Kursk region. This withdrawal raises concerns about the potential impact on Burkina Faso's security, as Islamist insurgents recently carried out one of the deadliest attacks in years, killing up to 300 people.

(With contributions from agencies)