EDITORIAL | Mongolia Sets Bad Precedent with Failure to Arrest Putin

It made for a disturbing sight. Russian President Vladimir Putin just paid a state visit to Russia's neighboring country of Mongolia. He did so even though the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant for him. The warrant alleged his responsibility for war crimes involving child abductions following his invasion of Ukraine. 

Mongolia is an ICC member state and its leaders should have arrested the lawless dictator. However, the Mongolian leaders welcomed Putin as a state guest. Mongolia's President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh and Putin met in a cordial atmosphere. Then the two attended a ceremony commemorating their World War II "victory" over Japan in an event with a strong anti-Japanese tone to it. 

This was Putin's first visit to an ICC member state since the arrest warrant was issued in March 2023. Under the Rome Statute establishing the ICC, member states are obligated to arrest Putin or other subject of a warrant. 

Mongolia argues that it really had no choice since it had remained dependent on Russia for more than 90% of its oil supplies, even after breaking away from Soviet control during the Cold War. Furthermore, it is no match to Russia militarily. Nonetheless, Mongolia's failure to fulfill its responsibility is still unacceptable. 

Ukraine's foreign ministry harshly condemned the visit. It said, "Mongolia has allowed an accused criminal to evade justice, thereby sharing responsibility for the war crimes." 

It was only right that Päivi Kaukoranta, president of the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC, also condemned the visit. She sent a letter to the Mongolian foreign minister, stating that it was unforgivable for Mongolia to allow Putin to set foot on its territory without fulfilling its duty to arrest him. 

Designating Mongolia as 'Non-Cooperative'

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said he would "refrain from getting into details." There are situations in which Japan is seeking Mongolia's cooperation in resolving the North Korean abductions issue. Nevertheless, he should have pointed out the injustice in Mongolia's welcoming of Putin. 

Former prosecutor Tomoko Akane currently serves as president of the ICC. As the largest contributor to the ICC budget, Japan should take the lead in preventing any recurrence of this lamentable situation. It would be even more tragic if Mongolia's failure to arrest Putin set a precedent.

The ICC has initiated procedures to certify Mongolia as "non-cooperative." If it is determined that its cooperation obligations have not been fulfilled, the matter can be referred to the Assembly for debate. 

Dragging Mongolia Into the Ranks of 'Anti-Japan'

This year marks the 85th anniversary of the Nomonhan (Khalkhin Gol) Incident. That was a large-scale clash between the Soviet military and the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). Putin and Khürelsükh reaffirmed that the bloody battle represented a "joint victory of the Soviet military and the Mongolian military over militarist Japan." Therefore, it appeared that Russia dragged Mongolia into the ranks of countries willing to spout "anti-Japan" propaganda. 

The fact, however, is that it was not such a great victory. Soviet documentary materials made available to researchers following the end of the Cold War show that the number of Soviet troops killed or wounded in the fighting far surpassed the number of IJA casualties. That, in turn, has led to calls for a drastic reappraisal of what actually happened during the incident. 

Such Russian falsifications of history can no longer be tolerated. 

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(Read the editorial in Japanese.)

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun