The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has warned Turkmenistan against welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin, reminding the Central Asian state of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Although Turkmenistan is not a signatory to the Rome Statute and does not recognize the jurisdiction of the Hague-based institution, Ukraine expressed hope that Ashgabat would respect the “norms of international law.”
In a statement on Thursday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry further urged “all countries that value human life, international law, and the UN Charter to refrain from holding joint events with the participation of Putin.”
Putin arrived in Ashgabat on Friday morning for a working visit, during which he will participate in the international forum titled “Interconnection of Times and Civilizations – Basis of Peace and Development,” dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of Turkmen poet and thinker Makhtumkuli Fraghi.
The ICC issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest in March 2023, accusing him of the “unlawful deportation of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.”
Moscow has dismissed these claims as ridiculous, noting that the evacuation of civilians from combat zones is not a crime. Furthermore, neither Russia nor Ukraine is a party to the Rome Statute, meaning the ICC lacks jurisdiction in this matter.
In late August, Ukraine issued a similar demand to Mongolia, which is a signatory to the ICC. The country refused to comply, arguing that it maintains a policy of neutrality regarding the conflict. This infuriated Kiev, which promised to “work with partners to ensure that this has consequences for Ulaanbaatar.”
Kiev also called on Mexico to arrest Putin if he visits the country, following reports earlier this year that the Russian president was invited to attend the inauguration of Mexico’s new leader in October. The Mexican authorities rejected this request.