Vladimir Poetin — © AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin is traveling to Mongolia on Tuesday for a state visit. However, that country recognizes the International Criminal Court, which has issued an arrest warrant for Putin. But the Kremlin says it is not worried that the Russian president will be arrested.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023, for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. Since then, the Russian president has not traveled to countries that recognize the ICC. Until now: the state visit to Mongolia is Putin’s first trip to a country that is bound by the court’s decision. The country should therefore legally arrest the Russian president.
However, the Kremlin said on Friday that it was not worried about Putin’s possible arrest. “We are not worried,” said spokesman Dmitry Peskov. “We have a great dialogue with our friends from Mongolia.” Asked whether Russia had discussed the arrest warrant with the Mongolian authorities in advance, it only vaguely said that “all aspects of the visit were carefully prepared.”
