“Mongolia has always maintained a policy of neutrality in all its diplomatic relations, as demonstrated in our statements of record to date,” the spokesperson added.
Mongolia, a vast country of 3.3 million people, sits in an awkward geographical spot landlocked between superpowers Russia and China. It has walked a diplomatic tightrope to avoid alienating either of its neighbors with whom it has extensive historic and economic ties. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine hasn’t changed that calculus for the government in Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian capital.
Mongolia, however, is a member of the ICC, which in March of last year issued an international arrest warrant for Putin over war crimes related to the deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.
Any ICC member is required to act upon the court’s warrants, but Mongolia has not done so. A legal expert previously told POLITICO that Mongolia will likely face prosecution over its inaction.
The European Union, Ukraine and international human rights organizations like Amnesty International previously urged Mongolia to act on its obligations.
Heorhii Tykhii, spokesperson for the Ukrainian foreign ministry, called Mongolia’s failure to arrest Putin “a heavy blow to ICC and the international criminal justice system.”
“Mongolia allowed the indicted criminal to escape justice, thereby sharing responsibility for his war crimes. We will work with partners to ensure that this has consequences for Ulaanbaatar,” Tykhii added.
During the visit, Putin invited Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh to the BRICS summit of emerging economies that will take place in Russia in October.
Mongolia’s government spokesperson also added that Putin’s visit is in keeping with the historic precedent of heads of state jointly celebrating the anniversary of the victory by Soviet and Mongolian forces over Japan in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol in 1939.