Human Rights Watch calls on Mongolia to arrest Putin during his visit

Putin arrived in Mongolia on Monday despite arrest warrant issued by International Criminal Court alleging war crimes in Ukraine

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People holding Ukrainian national flags and a banner take part in a protest ahead of a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar on Monday. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:06am, 3 Sep 2024Updated: 3:12am, 3 Sep 2024

Human Rights Watch called on Mongolia to either deny entry to Russian President Vladimir Putin or arrest him, according to a statement by Maria Elena Vignoli from the non-governmental organisation’s global justice unit on Monday.

“Mongolia would be defying its international obligations as an ICC member if it allows Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit without arresting him,” Maria Elena Vignoli, senior international justice counsel at Human Rights Watch, said in the statement.

“Welcoming Putin, an ICC fugitive, would not only be an affront to the many victims of Russian forces’ crimes, but would also undermine the crucial principle that no one, no matter how powerful, is above the law,” Vignoli said.

According to the Kremlin, Putin arrived in the capital Ulaanbaatar on Monday evening. A meeting with Mongolian President Uchnaagiin Chürelsüch is planned for Tuesday.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Battsetseg Batmunkh, Mongolia’s minister of foreign affairs, walks past honour guards upon arrival at the airport in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday. Photo: AFP

Putin travelled to the country at the Mongolian leader’s invitation to strengthen cooperation between the two nations, according to a Kremlin statement, despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) alleging war crimes in Ukraine.

The Russian leader is wanted by The Hague-based court for the alleged illegal deportation of Ukrainian children since his troops invaded the country in 2022.