Mongolia's Decision on Putin Undermines International Criminal Law

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry criticized Mongolia for failing to arrest Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, who is wanted on an International Criminal Court warrant. The non-arrest is seen as a significant setback for the international criminal law system. Kiev vows to work with allies to ensure repercussions for Mongolia.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has sharply criticized Mongolia for its failure to apprehend Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, who is wanted on an international warrant. Putin's visit to Mongolia, intended for discussions on a potential new gas pipeline with China, has sparked international controversy.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Putin last year, obliging its 124 member states, including Mongolia, to arrest him and transfer him to The Hague. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi condemned Mongolia's failure to act, describing it as a severe blow to the international criminal law system.

In a strong statement, Tykhyi accused Mongolia of allowing an alleged criminal to evade justice and pledged that Ukraine would work with its allies to ensure Mongolia faced consequences. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed concerns over the warrant, noting that all aspects of the visit had been pre-discussed with Mongolia. The ICC charges against Putin involve the alleged illegal deportation of hundreds of Ukrainian children, accusations which Moscow has labeled as politically motivated.

(With inputs from agencies.)