Mongolia says it refused to arrest Putin because of “energy dependence”
Ukraine's foreign ministry sharply criticized Mongolia for failing to execute an international arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin during his recent visit.
Mongolia’s government didn’t execute an international arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin during his official visit on 2 August due to Mongolia’s “energy dependence,” a Mongolian government spokesperson told Politico on 3 September.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin visited Mongolia on 2-3 September, making his first official trip to an International Criminal Court (ICC) member state since it issued an arrest warrant against him in March 2023. The warrant mandates the 124 ICC member states to arrest him if he enters their jurisdiction.
The European Union, Ukraine, and human rights organizations previously urged Mongolia to fulfill its obligations as an ICC member state.
A government spokesperson told POLITICO that “Mongolia’s energy dependence” on Russia made it difficult to act on the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for Putin’s arrest over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
According to the spokesperson, Mongolia imports 95% of its petroleum products and over 20% of its electricity from the immediate Mongolian neighborhood, which has previously suffered interruption for technical reasons.
“This supply is critical to ensure our existence and that of our people,” the spokesperson said.
The landlocked nation of 3.3 million people, situated between Russia and China, maintains a policy of neutrality in its diplomatic relations. Despite being a member of the ICC, Mongolia did not act upon its obligations to execute the warrant.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on 30 August Mongolia to fulfill its obligations and arrest Putin during his upcoming visit. After Mongolia’s inaction, Ukrainian foreign ministry criticized the country. Spokesperson Heorhii Tykhii called it “a heavy blow to ICC and the international criminal justice system,” adding that “Mongolia allowed the indicted criminal to escape justice, thereby sharing responsibility for his war crimes.”
Legal experts said Mongolia may face prosecution for failing to act on the ICC warrant.
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