Putin meets with Mongolian president despite arrest warrant from International Criminal Court

ULAANBAATAR — Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Mongolian counterpart in Ulan Bator on Tuesday. It was his first visit to a member state of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since the court issued an arrest warrant against him last year.

Putin was met by an honour guard as he landed in the Mongolian capital the night before, beginning his much-publicised trip that was seen as a sign of contempt for the court, Kyiv, the West and human rights groups, all of which had called for his detention.

He then met with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh at the imposing Genghis Khan Square in Ulaanbaatar, also known as Sukhbaatar Square.

SAFE SPACE? Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) inspects a guard of honour with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh during an official welcoming ceremony in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar September 3, 2024. AFP PHOTO

A band belted out war melodies and the Russian and Mongolian national anthems as the two heads of state stood in the square next to Mongolian soldiers in traditional dress, some of whom rode on horseback.

The Russian president is wanted by the ICC in The Hague for the alleged illegal deportation of Ukrainian children since his troops invaded the country in 2022.

Ukraine reacted angrily to the trip, accusing Mongolia of sharing responsibility for Putin's “war crimes” after authorities failed to arrest him at the airport.

Kyiv had called on Mongolia to execute the arrest warrant, while the ICC said last week that all its members were “obliged” to arrest those wanted by the court.

In practice, there is little that can be done if Ulaanbaatar does not comply.

A vibrant democracy sandwiched between the authoritarian giants Russia and China, Mongolia maintains close cultural ties with Moscow and an important trade relationship with Beijing.

During the Soviet era it was under the control of Moscow.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, efforts have been made to maintain friendly relations with both the Kremlin and Beijing.

The country has not condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has abstained from voting on the conflict at the United Nations.

The Kremlin said last week that it was not concerned that Putin could be arrested during the visit.

“Get Putin out of here”

Genghis Khan Square was decorated with giant Mongolian and Russian flags on Tuesday to mark Putin's first visit to the country in five years.

A small protest rally had taken place there the day before; a handful of demonstrators held up a sign demanding “Get the war criminal Putin out of here!”

Another protest planned for Tuesday was prevented from getting anywhere near the Russian president due to tight security measures.

Instead, they gathered about a block away from the Monument to the Politically Oppressed, which is dedicated to those who suffered for decades under the Soviet-backed communist regime in Mongolia.

Putin's visit comes on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the decisive victory of the Mongolian and Soviet forces against Imperial Japan.

Ahead of the trip, Putin pointed to a number of “promising economic and industrial projects” between the two countries in an interview with the Mongolian newspaper Unuudur shared by the Kremlin.

This includes the construction of the Trans-Mongolian gas pipeline between China and Russia, he said.

The Russian President also said he was interested in “continuing substantive work” with a view to a trilateral summit between himself and the heads of state of Mongolia and China.

The Mongolian government has not commented on calls for Putin's arrest.

But a spokesman for President Khurelsukh denied reports on social media on Sunday that the ICC had sent him a letter urging him to execute the arrest warrant during his visit.

Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC.