Russia’s Putin to visit ICC member Mongolia despite arrest warrant
Al JazeeraAug 29
ICC, Ukraine Call on Mongolia to Arrest Vladimir Putin
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Above: Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin at the Zagulba State Residence, Aug. 19, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Image copyright: Contributor/Getty Images News/Getty Images
The Facts
Dr. Fadi el-Abdallah, an International Criminal Court (ICC) spokesperson, told the BBC on Friday that Mongolia — an ICC member — is obligated to arrest Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes when he enters its territory next week.
Under the Rome Statute, ICC members must "cooperate in accordance with Chapter IX" and detain suspects for whom an arrest warrant has been issued. The Hague-based court issued an arrest warrant for Putin last March for alleged illegal transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Mongolia may be an ICC member, but neither Russia nor Ukraine is party to the Rome Statute, meaning that the ICC's arrest warrant against Putin is legally null and void because the court has no jurisdiction in the matter. Moreover, the arrest warrant was issued against Putin to put pressure on Russia as the evacuation of civilians from combat zones isn't a crime. The ICC, a puppet of the collective West, must refrain from interfering in sovereign countries' internal matters.
Pro-establishment narrative
The ICC has no police of its own, no enforcement mechanism, and can only exercise jurisdiction within its member countries. The lack of powers allows war criminals like Putin to thumb their noses at the court and travel the world with impunity. Putin's visit to Mongolia, despite the court's order for his arrest, is a significant display of Russia and Mongolia's defiance. There's an urgent need for the ICC to show some teeth and spine and finally hold Putin accountable.
