“Mongolia, as a signatory to the Rome Statute, is obligated to enforce the ICC’s arrest warrant for Putin if he enters its territory” said Niccolò Figà-Talamanca, Secretary General of No Peace Without Justice.
No Peace Without Justice calls on the Mongolian authorities to uphold their commitments as a State Party to the International Criminal Court (ICC) by arresting Russian President Vladimir Putin if he enters their territory. President Putin, who is reportedly due to visit Mongolia on 3 September to participate in ceremonial events upon the invitation of President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the ICC in March last year. The ICC Prosecutor alleges that President Putin is responsible for war crimes allegedly committed in the situation of Ukraine, namely the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and Russian-controlled territories.
“The Rome Statute leaves no room for ambiguity: no head of state is immune from international law. As an ICC State Party, Mongolia is obliged to enforce the ICC’s arrest warrant for President Putin. Mongolia should uphold its commitments to stand for justice and not act in defiance of its international obligations thereby fuelling the cycle of impunity,” said Niccolò Figà-Talamanca, Secretary General of No Peace Without Justice.
In a similar effort to achieve accountability and fight the normalisation of impunity, on 4 June 2024, NPWJ filed a criminal complaint in Italy against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following news that he had been invited to the G7 Summit in Italy. The news of Mohammed bin Salman’s arrival in Italy was alarming due to his direct responsibility for the torture and murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and his representation of the repressive regime in Saudi Arabia. In a win for justice, the possibility of being arrested on Italian soil reportedly led to the cancellation of his visit.
“For those who allegedly bear the greatest responsibility for crimes under international law, whatever their position or level of power, it can no longer be business as usual. There must be consequences: every State Party should ensure the arrest warrant is not simply swept under the carpet”, added Niccolò Figà-Talamanca. “There is no interest for Mongolia to be viewed as a safe haven for alleged war criminals. Mongolia should instead clearly demonstrate its commitment to stand on the side of victims of human rights violations, not their alleged perpetrators”, he concluded.
