The International Bar Association (IBA) has criticised the visit of Russian president Vladimir Putin to Mongolia which starts today (3 September).

Mongolia is a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

As such, it has obligations including to arrest and surrender to the court any individuals as requested by the ICC.

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin of Russia, for the war crimes of unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.

IBA executive director Dr Mark Ellis said: “ICC States Parties should not be inviting persons subject to an ICC arrest warrant to visit their countries for any reason. Full stop.

“In light of President Vladimir Putin’s planned visit, Mongolia must now uphold its obligations as a State Party to the ICC.

“The ICC judges have found reasonable grounds to believe that President Putin committed serious crimes in the context of Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine.

“Mongolia’s membership in the ICC and its respect for the rule of law demands that it comply with this arrest warrant or let President Putin know that he is not welcome in Mongolia,” he said.

Mongolia must put law over politics, he said.

The ICC, created in 1998 by treaty, relies on its 124 States Parties to cooperate with judicial orders, to fulfil its mandate to prosecute genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.

As a permanent international court without a police force, member states are required to assist with arrest and surrender of suspects to the court.

Rome Statute

Mongolia has been a State Party since 2002, when it ratified the Rome Statute.

Kate Orlovsky (director of the IBA ICC and ICL programme) said: “States Parties agree to be the caretakers of the ICC’s mandate and credibility, as part of their commitment to ensuring victims of the most serious crimes see justice and accountability.

“This means that when the court calls on them to arrest and surrender a suspect, the Rome Statute requires them to do so.

“We call on all States Parties to remind Mongolia of the importance of this essential cooperation, and to enforce appropriate consequences in the event of non-cooperation.”

The IBA has produced a guide which addresses obligations under the Rome Statute, including for arrest and surrender.