Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Secretary of Russia’s Security Council, has denounced the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against President Vladimir Putin as “illegal.”
Medvedev noted on his telegram handle that ICC officials should think twice before executing the arrest warrant against Putin.
Commenting on the EU’s statement regarding Putin’s visit to Mongolia, which is an ICC signatory, he said, “The Mongolians have ignored the ICC and the European politicians.”
“If I were a judge or prosecutor of this so-called court, I would be afraid that some fool would carry out their illegal order. In that case, their lives would be worth no more than that <…> piece of paper.”
Dmitry Medvedev
On Monday, the EU expressed concern that the ICC warrant might not be executed and said it had shared its concern with Mongolian authorities.
“Mongolia, like all other countries, has the right to develop its international ties according to its own interests,” European Commission Spokeswoman, Nabila Massrali said.
She added, “Mongolia is a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC since 2002, with the legal obligations that it entails.”
More than 50 Russians outside the country have signed an open letter urging the government of Mongolia to “immediately detain Vladimir Putin upon his arrival.”
The signers include Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was freed from a Russian prison in August in the biggest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War.
Meanwhile, Putin, as part of his visit to Mongolia, participated in a ceremony to mark the 85th anniversary of a joint Soviet and Mongolian victory over Japan’s army when it controlled Manchuria in northeast China.
The two governments signed agreements for a feasibility study and the design of an upgrade to a power plant in Ulaanbaatar and to ensure the continuous supply of aviation fuel to Mongolia. Putin also outlined plans to develop the rail system between the two countries.
The two governments signed agreements for a feasibility study and the design of a power plant upgrade in Ulaanbaatar, to ensure the supply of aviation fuel to Mongolia.
Another agreement covered an environmental study of a river where Mongolia hopes to build a hydroelectric plant that Russia says would pollute Lake Baikal on the Russian side.
Putin also outlined plans to develop the rail system between the two countries.
He invited the Mongolian President, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh to attend a summit of the BRICS nations in the Russian city of Kazan in late October.
Expert Says Mongolia Requires Attention
Vasily Kashin, senior researcher at the Higher School of Economics, pointed out that “Mongolia is not the biggest country, but it requires attention given the long border it shares with Russia.”
“Moscow needs to maintain contact with Mongolia’s leadership, as well as a certain level of cooperation,” the expert said.
Mongolia has two very important neighbors, Russia and China, and their leaders are no strangers to the country, with Chinese President Xi Jinping notably making a trip to Mongolia just a few years ago.
Since then, however, Ulaanbaatar has diversified its foreign policy. The country has become more independent, seeking to make it clear that it’s not in anyone’s sphere of influence.
Also, Alexander Lomanov, Deputy Director of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of World Economy and International Relations, noted that the reason behind Putin’s visit has “a lot of historical significance for China.”
“The Chinese believe that their country played the leading role in defeating the Japanese aggressor. After all, the war actually started in the early 1930s with Japan’s annexation of Manchuria, where Tokyo had established a satellite state.”
Alexander Lomanov
“This is why memories of imperialist Japan’s defeat and China’s role in that process are an important page of history for the Chinese,” the analyst stressed.
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