Ukraine has urged Mongolia to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin forward of his go to to the nation subsequent week, his first to an Worldwide Legal Court docket (ICC) member state because the physique issued a warrant for his arrest.
The court docket alleges Mr Putin is liable for warfare crimes, saying he didn’t cease the illegal deportation of kids from Ukraine to Russia because the battle started.
An ICC spokesperson instructed the BBC that Mongolian officers “have the duty” to abide by ICC rules, however clarified that this didn’t essentially imply an arrest needed to happen.
The Kremlin mentioned it had “no worries” in regards to the go to, which is slated to happen subsequent Tuesday.
“We’ve got a superb rapport with our companions from Mongolia,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov instructed reporters in Moscow.
“In fact, all facets of the president’s go to have been rigorously ready.”
Dr Fadi el-Abdallah, a spokesperson for the ICC, instructed the BBC on Friday that court docket States Events – together with Mongolia – “have the duty to cooperate in accordance with the Chapter IX of the Rome Statute” – the settlement which arrange the court docket.
The settlement says in some circumstances, states could also be exempted from the duty to hold out an arrest the place they might be compelled to “breach a treaty obligation” with one other state or the place it will violate “diplomatic immunity of an individual or property of a 3rd state”.
“In case of non-cooperation, ICC judges could make a discovering to that impact and inform the Meeting of States Events of it. It’s then for the Meeting to take any measure it deems applicable,” Dr el-Abdallah mentioned.
The court docket alleged final yr that the Russian president was liable for warfare crimes, specializing in the illegal deportation of kids from Ukraine to Russia. It has additionally issued a warrant for the arrest of Russia’s commissioner for youngsters’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for a similar crimes.
It mentioned the crimes have been dedicated in Ukraine from 24 February 2022 – when Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Moscow has beforehand denied the allegations and labelled the warrants as “outrageous”.
The ICC has no powers to arrest suspects, and might solely train jurisdiction inside its member international locations.
Ukraine’s overseas ministry mentioned it hoped Mongolia was “conscious of the truth that Vladimir Putin is a warfare legal” and referred to as on the nation’s authorities to arrest the Russian chief and hand him over to prosecutors at The Hague, the seat of the ICC within the Netherlands.
The BBC has approached the Mongolian embassy in London for remark.
Final yr, Mr Putin cancelled a go to to a summit in South Africa following the ICC warrant for his arrest.
As a signatory to the court docket, South Africa ought to detain suspects in its territory, however President Ramaphosa warned Russia would see this as a declaration of warfare.
Mr Ramaphosa mentioned the choice for the Russian chief to not attend was “mutual”.
The BBC has contacted the Mongolian Embassy for a remark.