No one stands higher than the law: Human Rights Watch urged Mongolia to arrest Putin

Human rights activists noted that Putin plans to visit Mongolia on September 3, 2024 after the invitation of Mongolia Uhnaaa Khurylsukh to attend a military jubilee event. At the same time, Putin has been searched by the International Criminal Court (ICS) since March 17, 2023. The report states that the judges issued warrants for the arrest of the Kremlin and the Commissioner in the Russian Federation on the rights of children of Maria Lviv-Bielova for war crimes.

It is about illegal deportation and illegal movement of children from the occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia. "Mongolia will violate its international obligations as a member of the ISS if it allows Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit the country without arresting him," said Maria Helen Venoli, Senior International Justice Advisor at Human Rights Watch.

According to her, Putin's visit and his greetings in Mongolia will not only be an insult to the numerous victims of the Russian forces, but also undermine the principle, according to which no one, regardless of his power, is higher than the law. Human rights activists recalled that Mongolia became a member of the ISS in 2003. According to the founding agreement of the court, Mongolia is obliged to cooperate with the court, in particular arresting and issuing any suspects who enter its territory.

Not having its own police forces, the ISS must rely on states and the international community in arrests. Human Rights Watch is convinced that all members of the ISS must follow the example of couples and comply with their obligations in accordance with the court agreement.

For example, in August 2023, Putin was supposed to visit the annual Brix leaders summit in Johannesburg, but his visit was canceled through civil society pressure and the decision of the South African Court, which confirms the obligation of South Africa to fulfill the order for his arrest issued by the ICS.

Human rights activists also noted that in addition to deportation of children, they recorded numerous violations by Russian troops since their full -scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which should be investigated as potential military crimes. These include: HRW noted that the investigation of the court has now issued warrants for arrest 6 people.

"When Putin planned to visit the Summit Brix in South Africa last year, South Africa faced the choice that Mongolia made, but made it clear that she recognized his obligations to arrest him, and he eventually remained at home," Venoli said. According to her, Mongolian authorities now have a chance to demonstrate on specific conditions his commitment to justice, refusing Putin at entry or arrested by arresting him.