Mongolia was intended to apprehend Russia's President Putin

 

Mongolia was intended to apprehend Russia's President Putin yesterday evening. It did not happen, and now it is in a difficult situation. 

There is nothing exceptional about the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Mongolia on Tuesday - he is scheduled to meet with the leader of the country, have discussions on enhancing bilateral relations, and participate in a formal reception. 

What's odd is that Mongolia, being a participant in the International Criminal Court, would detain the Russian leader upon his arrival in Mongolia on Monday evening. 

Putin is the focus of a global arrest warrant that was issued by the ICC in March 2023. The court accused him of committing war crimes, specifically targeting the illegal removal of children from Ukraine to Russia. 

During that period, the Kremlin denounced the ICC's actions as "outrageous and unacceptable" and stated that they did not have any impact on Russia, as Russia is not a part of the ICC. 

Mongolia is currently facing a difficult situation as Putin makes a visit to the country, marking his first visit to an ICC member state since the arrest warrant was issued, seemingly without any consequences. 

In accordance with the Rome Statue, the inaugural agreement of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that became operative in 2002, ICC member countries are required to apprehend and hand over to the court any individuals who are targeted by an ICC warrant for arrest, if they enter their territory. 

The court lacks the means to enforce the regulation, but Mongolia disregarded it by greeting Putin with a protective detail as he visited President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh in the city, Ulaanbaatar, on Tuesday.